Yes, it's that time of the year again and it comes round so quickly it is frightening, though this year they are starting earlier and it is going on longer so more time for tantrums, sprained ankles, tabloid scandal and well, you know what I am talking about - Strictly Come Dancing 2008 starts in three weeks time.
In the build up to the first show we have already heard that Craig Revel-Horwood is writing his biography, just in time for the show, and he is telling ALL including the fact that he used to be a rent boy in order to fund his dancing lessons. Little bit too much information Craig....
Len Goodman, lovely smiley Len, is also serialising his coming biography in the tabloids and apparently was shocked at Craig's revelations, not so much in a judgmental way, but wondering if his publishers would want something equally spicy from him and he says he can't compete.
Then we hear that Nicole Cutler, who partnered John Barnes last year, has been replaced on the show by another dancer and well we all know that there is nothing like a dancer scorned, particularly as her ex, winner 
last year with Alesha Dixon, and still her dancing partner, is taking part in the show. She is so mad that she does what we all do when we are cross, we run to the News of the World and tell our story and rake in the shekels. It seems that the judges are all horrid and ignore them completely, Arlene is tight with her money and when she eventually bought her fellow judges a round of drinks she got a sarcastuc round of applause, the dancers are on the minimum wage, not paid any bonuses, get dressed in the corridor as they do not have a dressing room, and Tess and Bruce don't talk to them. How much of this is true is anybody's guess but it is being lapped up like mad (including me I have to admit).
And what of the contestants? Will it be the usual mix of people I have heard of and those that are a total mystery to me and will there be any members of the cast of Eastenders there? The answer to all those questions is yes. We have the ex-political correspondent of the BBC John Seargent which should be interesting, actress Cherie Lunghi, model Jodie Kidd no doubt seeking rehabilitation of her career after a year when she lost contracts left right and centre after being caught flogging drugs, Matthew Foster representing sport, a couple of singers from bands that I know not of, Gary Rhodes who will no doubt whip up a quick meal backstage to keep everyone happy and not one, not two, but THREE ex-Eastenders. This programme is a bete noir of mine and every year whichever member of this soap appears on the show, is guaranteed a huge popular vote regardless of how good, bad or indifferent they are. And following on from the disastrous performances of the two ladies from GMTV, Fiona Phillips and Kate Greenaway, we now have their male co-presenter Andrew Castle. I would feel that he would be rather light on his feet being an ex tennis player but I just hope that he brings a bit more flow to his dancing than his recent Wimbledon commentary.
So hardly the most riveting collection of 'celebs' there but it will all end up just as bitchy, tinselly and outrageous as ever I suppose and of course, we can guarantee that Brendon will do something that he shouldn't and be totally as boring and as predictable as always.
Let battle commence...
