Strictly Come Dancing series four
Celebrity dancers
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Emma Bunton (professional partner is Darren Bennett)
Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton is an avid Strictly Come Dancing fan and jumped at the chance to take part: "I love the people, the dances, the dresses – all of it!
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"When I was a little girl I used to love dressing up and dancing around and this is my chance to do it for real."
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Despite performing with the Spice Girls and as a solo artist, Emma has never done any ballroom or Latin dancing, or danced with a partner before!
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Nonetheless, Emma is excited at the challenges ahead: "I don't know what will happen or how I will get on; I'm just excited about meeting new people and learning something new – I can't wait!"
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Whilst being a seasoned performer, Emma still suffers from severe stage fright and is worried about falling over on live television, as she did a few times on stage with the Spice Girls.
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However, Emma has a cunning plan if it does happen: "I'll just blame my partner!"
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Emma is particularly looking forward to performing the Argentine tango and is looking to emulate Darren Gough's success of last year: "It was brilliant to see his journey and watch him really grow as a dancer."
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Emma Bunton rose to fame as "Baby Spice", one fifth of the hugely successful Spice Girls, one of the most successful musical artists of the Nineties - selling over 40m albums worldwide and racking up nine Number One singles in the UK before splitting up in 2000.
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Emma went on to forge a successful solo career, recording two hit albums, with a number of Top Five singles and the Number One single What Took You So Long.
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Emma is currently putting the finishing touches to her third solo album, due out later this year.
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Georgina Bouzova (professional partner is James Jordan)
Casualty actress Georgina Bouzova agreed to take part in Strictly Come Dancing because, apart from some ballet lessons aged five, she has never learnt to dance.
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However, lack of experience hasn't dented Georgina's confidence: "I'm going to win; there's no point in doing it if you don't win!"
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Apart from the opportunity of learning to dance, Georgina is, like all the girls taking part, looking forward to the glitz and glamour of Strictly: "After two years of playing a nurse, wearing no make-up and scrubs everyday, I'm looking forward to getting into some slinky outfits – the more over-the-top the better!"
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When it comes to the different styles of dances she will be expected to perform, Georgina has no preference: "I haven't got a clue which is which – are there two types of dance?"
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However, undaunted, she has decided on a very practical approach to learn the different styles of dance: "I'm going to imagine the two types of dance as two types of roles and just get into character."
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Although seemingly brimming with confidence, there is one aspect of Strictly that Georgina isn't looking forward to – the judges.
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"As an actress you never normally get criticised face to face, it's always done through your agent… the judges can be a bit cutting and I'm not sure how that will make me feel."
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Georgina is best known for her role as Nurse Ellen Zitek in Casualty, but has also appeared in many TV and stage roles, including Murder In Suburbia, Crossroads, Doctors, and Night and Day.
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Georgina has a Law degree and can speak French and Czech. She is a keen writer and is currently writing a novel.
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Claire King (professional partner is Brendan Cole)
Emmerdale's superbitch, Claire King, teams up with Strictly Come Dancing's very own bad boy, Brendan Cole.
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Claire is excited by the potentially explosive partnership: "I just knew it in my waters – the Bad Boy and Bad Girl together – it's going to be murder on the dancefloor!"
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Far from being intimidated by her partner's fierce reputation as a hard taskmaster, Claire is looking forward to the challenge: "I want to enjoy it, there's no point in being miserable. If Brendan starts shouting then I will just shout back."
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Claire was attracted to Strictly because of the challenge of learning something new and a love of ballroom dancing as an old-fashioned tradition.
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Another draw for Claire was the Strictly Come Dancing costumes: "I really just want to go for it, and I'll have them slashing them down, slashing them up – anything to detract from the dancing."
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Claire's dancing experience extends to ballet lessons as a child and drunken dancing at parties.
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However, she is excited at the prospect of performing the Latin dances, particularly the tango: "I love the drama, and Brendan and I are both drama queens."
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The Yorkshire-born actress rose to nationwide prominence playing soap superbitch Kim Tate in Emmerdale, and later as Wing Governor Karen Betts in Bad Girls.
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In her 20-year career, Claire has appeared in some of the UK's most popular programmes, including Dalziel and Pascoe, Holby City, Mayo and Doctors, and is currently filming Hollyoaks: In the City.
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Claire won Best Actress at the TV Quick Awards for her role in Bad Girls two years in succession, 2002 and 2003 – the only actress to do so – as well as a National Soap Award for Best Exit as Kim Tate in 1999.
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Louisa Lytton (professionl partner is Vincent Simone)
Eastenders actress Louisa Lytton is really excited about taking part in Strictly Come Dancing, especially since she has met her partner Vincent Simone.
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She may be the youngest of the celebrities taking part in the show, but she is determined to win it and doesn't want her age to stand in the way: "All in all I hope to win, I'm quite competitive."
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Louisa's not frightened of holding her own against the judges, even though she is apprehensive about their comments.
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"I do tend to say what I think, which is a bit of a worry. I'll have to make sure I keep my mouth shut!"
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Louisa has done some dancing before at drama school but not ballroom or Latin dancing. She thinks that Latin will be "a bit more (her)" than ballroom and is going to make sure she gets lots of practice in.
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Louisa is best known as Ruby Allen in EastEnders, whom she has played for the last two years. Before Eastenders, Louisa was a student at the Sylvia Young Theatre, where she studied singing, dance and drama.Other TV appearances include The Bill and various adverts.
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She lives in London with her mum Jane and dad Alan.
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Mica Paris (professional partner is Ian Waite)
Songstress and new host of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ ONE's What Not to Wear, Mica Paris is delighted to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing as she loved watching Come Dancing as a child.
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"I was the only one of my friends who was interested in it but I loved it."
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Mica is very laid-back about taking part and doesn't mind if people laugh at her - because she just wants to have some fun.
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Mica doubts she'll win but wants a challenge: "I never think I'm someone who wins anything, I never win jack!"
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As presenter of What Not to Wear, Mica's dance costumes are very important to her.
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Mica loved her dress fittings and is really pleased with what she's going to wear.
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"When I walked into the fitting I was filled with trepidation and was a bit worried; but afterwards I was so happy with it - the flamboyant costumes are so great."
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Mica's 1988 Top Ten single, You Are My One Temptation, catapulted her into the spotlight, resulting in platinum-plus debut album sales for So Good.
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Mica has continued to have chart success and has collaborated with top writers and artists including Prince and Jools Holland.
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Mica's talents have also led her to star in West End musicals and she has presented a number of television and radio shows.
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Mica lives in London with her two children.
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Jan Ravens (professional partner is Anton Du Beke)
Comedy actress Jan Ravens is delighted to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing as she's always wanted to learn ballroom dance.
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"I love to strut my stuff on the dance floor but this is something totally different. This is dancing with a partner and the idea of humiliating myself on TV in front of millions of people seemed irresistible of course!"
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Last time Jan danced was at Jon Culshaw's birthday party in June and she coincidentally met her dance partner there.
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"I spent all night on the dance floor shaking my funky stuff only to turn round at the end of the evening to see Anton Du Beke standing in the corner. I wouldn't have dared to ask him to dance though."
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Apart from showing everyone how it's done at Jon Culshaw's birthday, Jan did a bit of dance at drama school, but says it was more 'expressive dance' rather than choreographed routines.
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Her other dance experience has been through impersonating stars like Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and Madonna for Dead Ringers.
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Jan is probably best-known as all the female per
formances for Dead Ringers, both the TV and radio versions.
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She has also appeared as Janet Grimley in The Grimleys, Alistair McGowan's Big Impression and Bremner, Bird and Fortune.
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Jan lives in London with her husband Max and her three sons.
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Carol Smillie (professional partner is Matthew Cutler)
Television presenter Carol Smillie, best-known for presenting ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ ONE's Changing Rooms, was attracted to the "good old fashioned glitz and glamour" of Strictly Come Dancing.
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Carol admits that she is never the first person on the dancefloor and normally has to be reluctantly dragged on - and describes her dancing experience as "absolutely none whatsoever".
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Besides Carol's lack of dancing experience, she is also worried about facing the judges: "They're not very nice, but you have to let that wash over you - you certainly need to be thick-
skinned."
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However, that's not to say Carol is writing off her chances: "I'm coming into this competition thinking that I'll get fit and learn something. I'm very competitive but I also know my limitations and I might surprise myself."
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Bringing some of the Changing Rooms sparkle to the series, Carol is particularly excited about the costumes and glamour of the show: "The false eyelashes, the glamour and glitz, and as for the costumes, you can't go into this with a minimalist attitude - bling is the name of the game!"
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Born in Glasgow, Carol's television career began in 1992 when she joined the presenting team for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Holiday programme, going on to co-present Wheel of Fortune.
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In 1996 Carol fronted the hugely successful DIY makeover show Changing Rooms, as well as presenting ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Summer Holiday, Holiday Swaps and The National Lottery Show.
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Carol lives in Glasgow with her husband, Alex, and their three children.
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Matt Dawson MBE (professional partner is Lilia Kopylova) Former rugby England international Matt Dawson MBE has entered Strictly Come Dancing to impress his girlfriend and continue a family tradition.
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Matt says: "I've never done anything like this. I don't have a burning desire to become a professional dancer, but I'd like to be able to dance.
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"My girlfriend likes to dance, and my grandmother used to ballroom dance – it'll give the family something to giggle about!"
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Matt's only past experience of dancing has come from "drunken boogies on a Saturday night!"
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However, as a professional sportsman, Matt's competitive edge may give him an advantage as the competition progresses: "I don't want to be first out; two or three weeks is enough, anything beyond that is a bonus; but I'm very competitive so that may change later in the show."
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Although Matt acknowledges that his friends "will be wetting their knickers" on seeing him perform, he has no qualms about glamming up for the dance floor.
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"It's all part and parcel of the show – the dodgy sequins and ruffles; when I go down it will be in a blaze of glory!"
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2003 World Cup winning rugby international Matt Dawson is England's most-capped scrum half, representing England on 77 occasions and captaining the side nine times, including the successful 2000 Six Nations campaign.
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Matt also enjoyed a successful club career with London Wasps and represented the British Lions on two tours.
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Matt is team captain on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s A Question Of Sport and also a rugby analyst for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Five Live.
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Matt retired from rugby at the end of the 2005-06 season.
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Ray Fearon (professional partner is Camilla Dallerup)
Actor Ray Fearon was persuaded to take part in the show by his eight-year-old daughter who is a huge dance fan.
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"I wasn't going to do it but she persuaded me – she'd have never forgiven me if I hadn't agreed to do it!"
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Whilst he was hesitant to take part at first, Ray says that his daughter will be so thrilled to see him on the show that it makes it all worthwhile.
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He is also delighted to be performing 'on stage' again and learning a new skill: "Where else would I get a chance to learn all this?"
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Ray likes to exercise and keep fit but his dance experience is very limited, "other than back in the Eighties when dancing was such a large part of everyone's social life."
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He hopes that his experience of meticulously choreographed fight scenes in some of his acting jobs will be similar to learning the dance steps and will help him out.
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Ray's not embarrassed about any of the costumes the men have to wear.
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"There's not much I haven't had to do for my acting – wearing a thong on stage, being sprayed gold, I've had my head shaved, grown beards... you name it!"
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Ray Fearon is probably best-known as playing heartthrob mechanic Nathan Harding in Coronation Street.
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His career has spanned stage and screen including ten years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, with whom he played most male leads including Othello, Hamlet and Romeo.
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He also stared as Firenze in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
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He lives in London and has a daughter.
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Nicholas Owen (professional partner is Nicole Culter)
Journalist and ITV news presenter Nicholas Owen agreed to take part in Strictly Come Dancing because he loves a challenge.
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He has also always harboured a dream of learning to tap dance and hopes this will be the springboard to taking it up: "Having said that, I may get to the end and never want to see a dancefloor again!"
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Nicholas' past dancing experience comes from panto and dancing with his wife, Brenda, who he describes as a brilliant dancer.
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However, he claims he has managed to fool people into thinking he can dance by "riding the wave of my wife's dancing ability!"
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Unfazed by the judges, Nicholas claims his biggest fear is making a fool of himself and he has no ambition to win: "I haven't got a competitive bone in my body!
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"I have no expectations of hanging on after the first show – being there for the first one and the last one, when we can all have a jolly good knees-up, is enough for me."
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Nicholas Owen presents the ITV Lunchtime News. His previous roles at ITN include anchoring Channel 4 News and News at Ten.
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From 1994 to 2000 Nicholas was Royal Correspondent for ITV News.
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Nicholas began his journalistic career on the Surrey Mirror in 1964 before moving to Fleet Street in 1968.
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He worked for the Evening Standard and the Daily Telegraph before spending seven years with the Financial Times.
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In 1981 Nicholas joined the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in the North of England, working on regional and national news and current affairs programmes. He moved to ITN in 1984.
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Nicholas lives in Surrey with his wife and they have four children.
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Mark Ramprakash (professional partner is Karen Hardy) Cricketer of the Year 2006 Mark Ramprakash has 2005's winner Darren Gough to thank for taking part in this series of Strictly Come Dancing.
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He watched and supported Darren during the last series and loved the way he captured the public's imagination with his personality and dancing ability.
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"Darren made it 'legit' - he made it all about fun and taking yourself out of your comfort zone and seeing how you do."
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After a life of playing cricket, Mark is looking forward to the challenge of doing something completely different.
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His family have been very supportive, although when he told his eight-year-old daughter - who's a big fan of the show - she laughed and said: "What are you thinking?!"
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Other than nights out with friends, Mark has no dance experience but enjoys a boogie and says: "Once I'm up there I enjoy it".
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When it comes to taking criticism, Mark isn't afraid to defend himself.
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"I've never taken criticism that well: if I'm happy with what I have tried to do, it won't matter but I can't rule out yelling back at the judges!"
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Mark is particularly looking forward to learning the Latin dances: "The Latin style is more exciting where you can have a bit of fun"; although if he could learn one particular style he would love to be able to breakdance!
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Mark first made his name for Middlesex before playing for England. He then went on to join Surrey and became the first man to captain both Middlesex and Surrey.
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Mark lives in Middlesex with his wife and two daughters.
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Peter Schmeichel (professional partner is Erin Boag)
Legendary goalkeeper, the 'Great Dane' Peter Schmeichel, took some persuasion to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.
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However, after he attended a themed Strictly Come Dancing party, he decided he was definitely up for the challenge.
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"I've been looking for new ways to keep fit and learning to dance could be quite useful – it will work me hard!"
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Peter's very competitive and although he doesn't miss playing football, he does miss the competitive side of it, as well as the training and the performance.
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"Strictly is a competition. If it hadn't been a competition then I wouldn't have done it. I'm the kind of person that always needs a challenge. I need to be able to throw myself in at the deep end. It's in my nature to try and develop new things."
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The show will be a real challenge to Peter, who has always tried to avoid dancing in the past.
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One of the only times he has danced was on an early date with his wife - to Eye Of The Tiger!
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Despite his lack of experience, Peter is dedicated and looking forward to his partner pushing him to the limits, adding: "When I train I just want to train, I don't want to mess about - just get on with it."
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Peter has been described as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of Manchester United and, by some, as the greatest of all time.
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Born in Gladsaxe, Denmark, he was a United supporter as a boy before Alex Ferguson spotted him and took him to Old Trafford in 1991.
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He retired from professional football in May 2003.
Peter lives in Cheshire with his wife and he has two children.
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Spoony (professional partner is Alexsandra 'Ola' Jordan)
DJ and radio presenter Spoony loves dancing and jumped at the chance to take part in Strictly: "I really like dancing and I've seen the show and it looks amazing – plus I will be training with a purpose and learning from a professional."
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Spoony is, of course, no stranger to the dancefloor, although his experience comes from nightclubs rather than ballrooms.
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"Every time I'm out at the weekend I'll dance, even when I'm in the DJ booth on my own. I won't wait for anyone to get up there with me either – if I hear something I like then I'm on that floor."
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Spoony is keen to embrace all aspects of the show, including the costumes: "I'm fairly over-the-top with my clothes anyway, so I'm really not worried about the costumes.
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"I don't mind a sequin or a fitted shirt, or sleeveless or even bootcut trousers – feathers might be a bit over-the-top but you've got to totally immerse yourself."
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While Spoony is keen to learn new dance styles and progress in the competition, he has a word of warning for judges: "I'll take constructive criticism because they are professionals, but I'll send the boys round if they get personal!"
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Spoony's broadcasting career began on a local pirate radio station, from which he progressed to Kiss, Galaxy FM, and Radio 1, and most recently presenting football phone-in 606 on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Five Live.
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Spoony is also a renowned clubland DJ as a member of the Dreem Teem, DJing around the world and remixing tracks for Shola Ama, Faith Evans and All Saints amongst others.
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Spoony is also a keen golfer and organises The Annual Spoony Classic Golf Day at Stoke Park.
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Jimmy Tarbuck OBE (professional partner is Flavia Cacace)
Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck was inspired to take part in Strictly Come Dancing by the legendary dance duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
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Jimmy has years of dancing experience, at Tramp, The Playboy Club, Vernon's Dancing Academy, Liverpool and most recently at his son's wedding!
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Despite this, Jimmy has no ambition to win the competition, saying: "I don't think it is possible."
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That said, Jimmy has no fears about facing the judges: "The judges don't scare me!"
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Born in Liverpool, Jimmy made his television debut on Comedy Bandbox in 1962, and went on to appear and become resident compere on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, establishing himself as one of the nation's favourite entertainers.
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A long and varied a career on stage and screen has followed, including starring in Brazen Hussies and Linda Green (with his daughter, Liza) and hosting the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Bafta tribute to Bob Monkhouse.
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Jimmy was awarded the OBE for his services to show business and charity in 1994.
Jimmy lives with his wife.
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