As the Strictly Come Dancing line-up is slowly announced, we can’t help daydreaming about our fantasy contestants.
Instead of a collection of BBC presenters, soap stars and radio hosts, we have our sights set a little higher. Here’s seven celebrities we’d include in our fantasy line-up:
1. Hugh Grant.
(Andy Kropa/Invision)
We already know he has 'good hip action' from his dance through 10 Downing Street in Love Actually, with all that bum-wiggling to Jump (For My Love).
And what could be more fabulous than Hugh in sequins?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcgxBHBsl-4&feature=oembed
2. Dame Maggie Smith.
(Ian West/PA)
Although the 80-year-old claims to be looking forward to a 'lie down' after finishing six seasons as the Dowager Countess on Downton Abbey, she’s also never been one to put on her slippers and shuffle quietly into retirement.
Dame Maggie has said she plans to keep working for as long as she can, and Strictly would be a wonderful way of keeping her on her toes.
We’ve already seen her teaching Ron Weasley to waltz as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter – just imagine what she could do with a professional partner…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdSi5UkbDfs&feature=oembed
3. David Hasselhoff.
(Ian West/PA)
He may have been immediately kicked off America’s Dancing With The Stars after a disastrous first dance in 2010, but there’s a place for the Hoff’s bumbling cha-cha-cha skills on Strictly – if only as the contestant who provides the inevitable 'so bad it’s good' entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IpsdgRKTj4&feature=oembed
4. Mel and Sue.
Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc (Mark Bourdillon/BBC)
The inseparable presenting duo would bring the banter to Strictly, joking around with Bruno and having a laugh with Claudia.
We already know what they can do with baking puns, but dancing puns would jive well with Mel and Sue – we reckon they’d be pretty (American) smooth and quick(step) with their feet, as well as their wits.
5. Louis Walsh.
(Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)
After exiting from The X Factor judging panel, Louis definitely now has time in his diary on Saturday evenings. And what better way to get his own back than to steal the audience from his old show?
Judging by his performance on Celebrity Juice when he did some kind of chicken-inspired dance, he could really use the dance lessons – but everyone likes an underdog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d5C6LEZ1h4&feature=oembed
6. Ed Miliband.
Ed Miliband (Chris Radburn/PA)
The ex-Labour leader has had to do some adjusting since he stepped down in May, but it seems he’s getting along just fine: the first thing he did was jet off to Ibiza for a holiday. The next step would be to sign up for Strictly and embrace the sequins and sparkle and showbiz.
He may not have won enough votes to win the General Election, but perhaps Strictly voters would warm to him if he performed a authoritative Paso Doble.
7. Kit Harington.
Kit Harington (Clint Spaulding/AP)
Kit’s character Jon Snow in Game Of Thrones has reportedly met his end. This has upset many fans of the hunky actor, so we would be delighted if he would return to our screens to perform a sexy samba.
