I'm brainstorming a fanfic of the game and simultaneously watching the show (im at episode 3 of season 2 right now) and I wanna know how far into the show the game takes place if that makes sense.
I'm more confident on some of these than others
Lacey Turner and Mark Karmalita - I've had Lacey earmarked for a new guy pro since she was announced, the only good height match was Nikita, and I don't think he's getting an easy ride to the final this year, which is what I think Lacey presents due to a very loyal Eastenders fanbase.
Dani Dyer and Cristian Priori - Same thing with Lacey due to her height with the added factor of her probably not being able to be with Nikita.
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington - Kai's long overdue a ringer, I feel like they'd gel.
Sarah Storey and Aljaz Skorjanec - I don't think Aljaz has ever been paired with an athlete on the main show so I thought it would be interesting.
Chris Appleton and Alexis Warr - Pretty sure Chris has namedropped both Alexis and Dianne in interviews and I'd be interested to see how Alexis would get on without a built-in fanbase to come to the rescue, regardless of scores.
Cash Mercer and Aleksandra Isaeva - They're a decent height match, I was originally torn between Aleksandra and Amy for Cash but I went with Aleksandra.
Will Best and Dianne Buswell - After a down year with Stefan, I think she's earned a contender. I don't think Will will be seen as a ringer but his ceiling/potential could be pretty high.
Jaime Winstone and Vito Coppola - Jaime gives me Alex Kingston/Angela Scanlon/upper-mid tier vibes and I think that's the sort of celeb that Vito is due.
Bethany Antonia and Jowita Pryzstal - I think if Bethany opts to dance with a woman Jowita and Alexis are two of the stronger physical matches + Jowita hasn't really had a great dancer since winning with Hamza.
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Katya Jones - I don't think he'll be as bad as many of other Katya's partners are in the beginning, but he won't go as far as Lewis.
Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley - I hadn't heard of Graeme but I think people might warm to him, and I think Lauren will make him a legitimately ok dancer at worst (depending on where he starts in terms of natural ability)
Lawerence Robb and Amy Dowden - Not much to say really, I think they'd gel and he has a chance to make a deep run but its far from a guaranteed thing.
Tabby Stoecker and Nikita Kuzmin - Keeping up the pattern of ringer-athlete-ringer for Nikita, Tabby comes in almost certainly being lesser known than Sarah and I think without a built-in fanbase.
John Nellis and Maddie Ingoldsby - Not feeling confident about this at all, process of elimination though.
Melanie Waltes and Carlos Gu - Before the celebs were announced, I had a feeling Carlos wou get an older lady after winning last year and Melanie is the only person on this year's cast who really fits that category at all.
Bench: Neil, Nancy, Lethabo and Julian.