Welcome to series 8 with a whole new host of stars, and a whole new set of blog entries for me!

The kick off this year is September 11th with a whole new set up.  This time the professional dancers (including 3 new men) will meet thier celebrity for the first time at this live preview show.  No meeting in training rooms or cafe's in secret before hand!  The BBC promise that we will be party to the genuine reactions of a first meet with all details secret beforehand so we can see who is delighted and who isn't!

The press release also promises a group dance during this show with celebrities and pro's, so you can pick early favourites but (and this is contradictory) only after the show will the celebrities then go into training for 3 weeks before the show proper starts.  If they haven't done any training how are they going to do a group dance?  And as if the process wasn't stressful enough can you imagine the extra stress (for the celeb's and the pro's alike) of having to do a routine, with a new partner, for the first time in front of the nation?!  Rather them than me it has to be said!

There's also lots of rumours as to who is involved this year - Goldie (Singer), Tina O'Brien (Corrie), Felicity Kendal (Actress), Gary and Danielle Lineker, Gavin Henson (Rugby and x of Charlotte Church), Anne Widdicombe (Politician - my fingers are crossed on this one!), Patsy Kensit (Actress), Frank Bruno (Boxer), Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child Singer), Jennifer Metcalfe and Matthew Wright are all rumoured.

Also, Claudia Winkleman is getting a promotion and will be co-hosting the results show with Tess after Bruce has cut his hours.  Brucie will still be doing the main Saturday show, but will then leave before they record the Sunday results show.

For those of you who are new to this blog, or have managed to forget everthing since last year this is how this works:

You can find my Saturday evening routine and how I score things under the links on the left there - under 'Strictly-Scoring' and Strictly-Process'.  That should answer any questions you may have - but if you have anymore please do COMMENT below and I'll answer any other questions.

I will also be trying my best to keep a seperate list of the tracks each couple dance to.  This will be grouped into dance type and will list the performing couple (to help you remember), the title of the track, the original recording artist (or the version on itunes that gets the most downloads if the original is not available) and whether or not I would use the original track for dancing that dance to (and if not what I would do!)

For the first time this year you will be able to comment on any of my posts.  You do need to log in to do this, but registering is quick, easy and free - just follow the steps on the home page!

So, what do you think to all these changes?  It's great new blood, or the frantic changes of a dying series? Let us know in comments!