I guess just power on through it and keep going as if nothing happened? It feels a bit odd that this year’s batch of contestants have been revealed over the past week or so, at the same time that the accusations of mistreatment from former guest dancers continues unabated.

It’s an unexpected situation we find ourselves in, one that leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth, but at least there are some safeguards in place for this year’s willing participants. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed by the names announced (Sarah Hadland excepted, OBVIOUSLY) and sort of wonder if there have been more people declining the opportunity due to the ongoing furore.

This post ranking the contestants seems a bit harsh seeing as they haven’t even started yet, but I can’t argue that some of them are unknowns to me.

It’s quite fun to see a Gladiator in there, another BBC crossover to sit alongside the more traditional Eastenders stars. And fun that Tom Dean still gets to appear despite spoiling the fact by announcing it too early. Toyah Wilcox is a blast from the past and it will be very interesting to find out what Chris McCausland can come up with as the man himself has no idea how it’s going to go:

If anybody out there is thinking - How the hell is he going to do that? - then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing. I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong?

I’m still excited to watch the show and get back into the world of glitz and glamour, but have to admit that warm and comforting autumn feel that the show has brought us over the last few difficult years seems to be on very shaky ground at the moment. Here’s hoping it’s only good things from here on out.