Strictly odds: who will win and who will be this year's Ed Balls?

Michael Hogan

Updated Sun, November 19, 2017 at 11:08 AM UTC

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture

We got a first gawp at the Strictly Come Dancing’s class of 2017 during Saturday night’s red carpet launch show. Some showed hoofing promise. Others, well, not so much.

Now that all 15 famous - in the loosest sense of the word - faces have been paired with their pros and taken their first tentative steps onto the ballroom floor, we predict the title contenders, surprise packages, rank outsiders and comedy contestants. Altogether now: oppa Ed Balls style!

The glitterball contenders

Aston Merrygold

Aston Merrigold - Credit:  Ray Burmiston/PA — Credit: Ray Burmiston/PA

Bookies’ early favourite is the 29-year-old former frontman of boyband JLS. Not only is Merrygold known for his back-flips (expect to see those on the ballroom floor) but he was a judge on Sky1’s Got To Dance - hence rumblings about him being a ringer. His JLS bandmate JB Gill won the Strictly Christmas special, so Merrygold will want to go one better. If so, he’d become the third consecutive male champion. Forming a “pocket rocket” partnership with Janette Manrara, Aston looked comfortable among the pros during the Footloose group routine. But is he a tad too good? The public like to see progression and improvement, after all.

Odds: 11/4

Alexandra Burke

R&B diva Burke won the 2008 series of Strictly’s arch rival The X Factor - beating JLS (them again) into second place. As with Merrygold, there are grumbles about the 28-year-old having too much dance pedigree. She was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance, before starring in West End musicals The Bodyguard and Sister Act - the latter directed and choreographed by a certain Craig Revel Horwood. Hmm. A possible finalist but probably not likeable enough to win, despite being paired with loveable Spanish pro Gorka “The Corka” Marquez.

Odds: 5/1

Mollie King

The first member of this year’s Strictly line-up to be unveiled was 30-year-old King, an alumnus of girl group The Saturdays. She was a champion skier in her teens, so possesses competitive grit. Bandmate Frankie Bridge finished runner-up three years ago, so King will be keen to continue that success. Strictly’s male pros were jostling to land the leggy blonde as their partner and it was AJ Pritchard who got her, forming a toothy all-blond dream team who could go far.

Odds: 4/1

Jonnie Peacock

jonnie peaock - Credit:  Ray Burmiston/PA — Credit: Ray Burmiston/PA

Paralympic sprinter Peacock is the first ever contestant with a disability to appear on the main show. The 24-year-old is a below-the-knee amputee due to childhood meningitis, so will have obvious physical challenges to overcome - but that’s proved little obstacle in his gold medal-garlanded, MBE-earning athletics career. He’s also been paired with popular South African pro Oti Mabuse, who got to the final last year. Their Strictly story is bound to be an inspiring one - enough to propel them all the way?

Odds: 9/1

Gemma Atkinson

The actress - who has done the soapy rounds of Hollyoaks, Casualty and Emmerdale - is a former lingerie model and lads’ mag pin-up. The 32-year-old Mancunian has hired a full-time personal trainer, embarked on a 12-week fitness regime and given up alcohol ahead of the show. She’s taking it seriously and has a terrific partner in smiley Slovenian Alja? ?korjanec, who’ll fancy repeating his 2013 win with Abbey Clancey. Gemma looked one of the most impressive celebrities during the group number, so hopes are high.

Odds: 6/1

The comedy contestants

Susan Calman

The dry-witted Scottish comic and Radio 4 favourite describes herself as “an enthusiastic home dancer” and has vowed to bring the entertainment factor. The 42-year-old former lawyer stands just 4ft 11in and recently tweeted: “I haven't worn heels or a dress since I was 17. Haven't danced with a man in over a decade. Strictly, I'm ready.” She’s a superfan of pro dancer Kevin Clifton (from Grimsby?) and thankfully, was partnered with him. Cue heart-melting tears of happiness. He’ll look after her and they should be excellent value - although Kev’s unlikely to extend his record of reaching the final in all his four years on the show.

Odds: 80/1

Chizzy Akudolu

The 43-year-old actress is best-known for playing heart surgeon Mo Effanga in Holby City but was also a fanatical disco dancer in her teens - and judging by her full-on Footloose performance, hasn’t forgotten the moves. The accomplished comedienne came second in Let’s Sing & Dance For Comic Relief and has been partnered with Siberian sweetheart Pasha Kovalev, forming a highly likeable pairing. He’s a good teacher. She’s fitter and more confident than she might look. The fun factor might just win her new fans.

Odds: 50/1

Reverend Richard Coles

Richard Coles - Credit:  Guy Levy — Credit: Guy Levy

As the man himself says: “Cometh the hour, cometh the overweight vicar with arthritic knees.” Already a crowd favourite, the pop star-turned-priest had a huge hit with The Communards’ Don’t Leave Me This Way, so don’t be surprised to see Coles cha-cha-ing to that chart-topper come late September. Paired with new Aussie pro Dianne Buswell, the 55-year-old panel show regular should be hilarious - and certainly looked game for a laugh during the group dance, when he sprawled on the judges’ table and busted out Jeremy Vine-esque disco moves. The Strictly wardrobe department are doubtless sewing sequins onto clerical collars as we speak.

Odds: 33/1

The surprise packages

Debbie McGee

The recent widow and former assistant of magician Paul Daniels will be following in the footsteps of her late husband, who was eliminated second from the 2010 contest. ThelovelyDebbieMcGee? should fare better, since she’s a former ballerina who became artistic director of her own ballet company - although she insists she hasn’t danced for three decades. The 58-year-old will attract the expert eye of judge Darcey Bussell and, paired with Italian stallion Giovanni Pernice, could surprise a few people. Now that’s magic.

Odds: 16/1

Davood Ghadami

Davood  - Credit: Guy Levy — Credit: Guy Levy

The 35-year-old Brit-Iranian actor, who plays Walford market’s resident ladies’ man Kush Kazemi in EastEnders, is quite the muscle-bound beefcake. Expect him to be ripping his shirt off, in the noble lineage of Steve Backshall, Rav Wilding, Judge Rinder, plus various soap hunks and rugby players from Strictlys of yore. He’s been partnered with new Ukrainian pro (and former Playboy Playmate) Nadiya Bychkova and there are already rumours of potential “curse of Strictly” showmance. From the group number, Ghadami looked more of a partner-lifter and pose-striker than a mover, but it’s early days.

Odds: 9/1

Joe McFadden

The Glaswegian actor is best-known for playing surgeon Raf di Lucca in Holby City, PC Joe Mason in Heartbeat and the lead role in the BBC adaptation of Iain Banks novel The Crow Road. The 41-year-old housewives’ favourite has also appeared in West End musicals, so is accustomed to jazzhand-waving. He’s paired with Katya Jones, who partner Ed Balls last year. McFadden looked quietly proficient during the group danced so should be an upgrade, in hoofing ability if not headline-grabbing.

Odds: 16/1

Ruth Langsford

The 57-year-old, who presents daytime shows Loose Women and This Morning, is a self-confessed dance novice. She’s warmly likeable but will that be enough? Being paired with the much-loved Anton du Beke - who always gets landed with the more mature ladies - should keep her in for a few weeks at least.

Odds: 40/1

The first-out fodder

Brian Conley

It’s a puppet! The 56-year-old comedian and panto stalwart has stage school and West End experience but insists he isn’t much of a dancer. Will Strictly viewers warm to him hamming it up and mugging to camera? Middle-aged men are often sent home first, after all. Might just be helped by being paired with new arrival Amy Dowden - the contest’s first ever Welsh pro, which could get them patriotic votes from the Valleys.

Odds: 25/1

Charlotte Hawkins

Charlotte Hawkin  - Credit:  Ray Burmiston/PA — Credit: Ray Burmiston/PA

In the TV tradition of Angela Rippon on Morecambe & Wise, newsreader Hawkins will be stepping out from behind her desk to hit the dancefloor. The sporty 42-year-old follows her Good Morning Britain colleagues Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway into the Strictly tanning booths. Will she be a finalist like the former or a flop like the latter? Judging by her stiff, mistake-ridden performance in the launch show’s group dance, it looks more Garraway-shaped. Expect scowling from her partner Brendan Cole when the judges raise their scoring paddles.