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Ola Jordan has thrown her hat into the ring as a possible new Strictly Come Dancing judge.
The pro dancer has put herself forward to replace Alesha Dixon on the panel when the show returns to BBC One later this year.
"I would like to see me replacing Alesha. I would be a good judge," Jordan told The Sun.
"It has to be someone interesting and I think they are looking for a girl, so here I am! I've done six series, I'm a dancer and I've won it.
"I hope they choose someone to do with dancing because much as I liked Alesha, she didn't say anything interesting to me as a professional dancer."
Jordan won Strictly in 2009 with sports presenter Chris Hollins. Her other professional partners have included Paul Daniels, Andrew Castle and footballer Robbie Savage.
The Polish-born dancer is married to fellow Strictly star James Jordan.
Alesha Dixon departed Strictly in January after landing a deal with Simon Cowell to judge Britain's Got Talent. The BBC is expected to announce her replacement in the summer.
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EASTENDERS star Sid Owen will be swapping Walford for waltzes as he is set to take part in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The Londoner — who has played hapless mechanic Ricky Butcher on and off for nearly 25 years years — is close to signing on the dotted line for this year’s series of Strictly.
And Sid could end up in a ballroom battle with his on-screen sister.
Actress Charlie Brooks — who plays the soap’s superbitch Janine Molloy — is also due to take to the dancefloor.
A friend of the actor said: “Sid has seen how many of his EastEnders colleagues have taken part in Strictly over the past few years and they’ve all loved it.
“People such as Kara Tointon, Jessie Wallace and Scott Maslen raved about the experience — as did Charlie when she took part in the Christmas special.
“So now he fancies trying it for himself.”
The pal added: “He did think about signing up for this year’s Dancing On Ice but the timing wasn’t right and he thought Strictly would be more fun.”
Sid first appeared in the BBC1 soap in 1988. He left the show for two years in 2000 and quit again in 2004.
He returned to Albert Square in 2008, along with Patsy Palmer who plays his character’s former flame Bianca — famous for her screech of “Rickaaaay!”.
But the actor decided to take time out from the show again in January to work as a patron of the charity Drop4Drop — run by the boyfriend of singer Adele.
Sid has known Adele’s squeeze Simon Konecki for more than 20 years.
He recently spent time in India working on Drop4Drop projects helping to provide people with clean water.
If he does sign up for Strictly it won’t be Sid’s first taste of reality TV.
Seven years ago he took part in I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here and came third behind the series’ eventual winner Carol Thatcher.
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Darcey Bussell has been tipped to replace Alesha Dixon on Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Royal Ballet principal ballerina will replace the ex-Misteeq singer as a judge on the BBC One show after Dixon switched to Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent, reports suggest.
Bussell has signed a £100,000 deal to become a judge, according to The Sun, although it is not the first time she has used her expertise on the programme's panel.
The 42-year-old mother of two lent a hand at the final stages of the competition three years ago as a guest judge, and Craig Revel Horwood told Digital Spy earlier this year that he wanted to see her join the panel.
"She took some convincing as it means uprooting and being in cold, wet and windy England for four months instead of sunny Sydney," a show insider claimed.
"But she said the Strictly job is probably the one thing that would bring her back. We're delighted to have her on board."
Industry names including former Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hardy and choreographer Karen Bruce are reported to have filmed screen tests for the job.
Dixon left a vacancy on the Strictly panel after an offer from Britain's Got Talent rumoured to be in the region of £350,000.
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I think the main reaction to Darcey is 'not very exciting, but could be so much worse!'
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Katya Virshilas will not return for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC has confirmed.
The professional dancer, who partnered Phil Tufnell, Gavin Henson, Dan Lobb and Simon Webbe during her time on the show, has been axed to make way for a new face, according to The Sun.
A BBC spokeswoman said: "We'd like to thank Katya for her wonderful contribution to the show. She will very much remain part of the Strictly family."
A source told the paper that the show's new executive producers Glenn Coomber and Andrea Hamilton have decided to retain all the other professional dancers.
"Glen and Andrea wanted to meet the dancers and hear why they wanted to do this year's show," the insider said.
"They always knew they wanted to bring in fresh talent but it was about deciding who would have to make way and they decided to give Katya the boot.
"She is not as high profile as some of the other female dancers, although it was a close call and it was nothing personal against her.
"Producers are excited about the new dancer, who they hope will shake up the show and keep the other professionals on their toes."
James Jordan, who was involved in a row over marking with judge Craig Revel Horwood on the 2011 series, will apparently return to the show.
"All the other dancers are back, including James, who many thought might be axed because of his row with Craig," the source added.
"But producers want as much drama as possible this year and bringing James back to face Craig could provide that."
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One later this year with new judge Darcey Bussell replacing Alesha Dixon.
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FORMER England cricket captain Michael Vaughan is preparing to don sequins after agreeing to star in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. :wub:
He is the first celebrity to sign up for the new series of the hit BBC1 dance show, which begins in September.
The Beeb first approached him several weeks ago but Michael — who captained England to their Ashes win in 2005 — only agreed to take part after getting reassurance from pals, including Robbie Savage, who took part in last year’s series.
An insider said: “Michael was chuffed that the BBC asked him to take part. But he was really uncertain about it.
“He had to think hard about having to dress up in pink and sequins and learn how to dance in front of millions of viewers.
“He asked a lot of his sporting mates if he should do it and Robbie immediately told him to say yes, as he had such a great time in last year’s show.”
Sportsmen traditionally do well on Strictly.
Michael’s fellow ex-England cricketers Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash have both previously won the show.
Westlife’s Nicky Byrne is among other stars invited to join the new series.
Yesterday TV Biz revealed how Strictly bosses have fired dancer Katya Virshilas and replaced judge Alesha Dixon with former lead ballerina for the Royal Ballet, Darcey Bussell.
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Karen Hauer has been announced as the latest professional to join the ranks of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
The Venezuelan dancer has been brought in to replace Katya Virshilas, who was axed by the BBC last week.
RTE reports that the 30-year-old is looking forward to being a part of the series, quoting her as saying: "If I could dance how I feel about joining Strictly then you'd be able to see how excited I am!"
Hauer is a former World Mambo Champion and has previously worked alongside Jennifer Lopez.
Three years ago, she auditioned for US reality series So You Think You Can Dance?, but was eliminated after the first few weeks.
BBC controller of entertainment Katie Taylor said of Haeur: "We're thrilled to have such a fresh and talented professional join us, and I can't wait to see what she will bring to the ballroom this autumn."
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One later this year with another new face on the judging panel, with ex-ballerina Darcey Bussell replacing Alesha Dixon.
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Westlife's Nicky Byrne is suppose to be in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing
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Craig Revel Horwood has said that new Strictly Come Dancing panellist Darcey Bussell is likely to be a tough judge.
Speaking at the press night of Spamalot, Revel Horwood told The Daily Telegraph that his reputation as the meanest judge on the show may be under threat.
"I think she's going to be a bit of a bitch, really," he said. "I hope she doesn't out-bitch me - that's my biggest worry. If that happens, I'll have to bring it on.
"We haven't met up yet, but I know her. She's going to be a lot tougher, a lot harder."
Former ballerina Bussell - who first appeared on Strictly as a guest judge in 2009 - has replaced Alesha Dixon on the panel for the tenth series of the BBC show, after Dixon made the move to ITV and appeared as a judge on the latest series of Britain's Got Talent.
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing is expected to air this autumn and producers are said to be keen to have "as many London 2012 competitors as possible" taking part.
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Craig Revel Horwood has said that new Strictly Come Dancing panellist Darcey Bussell is likely to be a tough judge.
Speaking at the press night of Spamalot, Revel Horwood told The Daily Telegraph that his reputation as the meanest judge on the show may be under threat.
"I think she's going to be a bit of a bitch, really," he said. "I hope she doesn't out-bitch me - that's my biggest worry. If that happens, I'll have to bring it on.
"We haven't met up yet, but I know her. She's going to be a lot tougher, a lot harder."
Former ballerina Bussell - who first appeared on Strictly as a guest judge in 2009 - has replaced Alesha Dixon on the panel for the tenth series of the BBC show, after Dixon made the move to ITV and appeared as a judge on the latest series of Britain's Got Talent.
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing is expected to air this autumn and producers are said to be keen to have "as many London 2012 competitors as possible" taking part.
