Kara Tointon, Arlene Phillips and Nancy Dell'Olio

Which one can you see next to Len?

It's been approximately five minutes since it was announced that Alesha Dixon was leaving Strictly - but William Hill are already offering odds on her replacement. And there are a few, er, surprising choices on there. Nany Dell'Olio, anyone?

Professional dancer Karen Hardy is the favourite to take a seat on the judging panel, with odds of 4/6 - which would probably please all the people who thought Alesha wasn't an experienced enough dancer to have a place on the panel but would be a bit boring to those of us who just want someone famous on there to talk about.

But you can also get odds of 33/1 for Arlene Phillips - who was famously ditched for Alesha back in 2009 - to reclaim her seat on the panel. 

Arlene has just tweeted in response to the news of Alesha's departure, saying: 'Was going to TWEET about the state of hospitals and good nursing vie bad but I see other things occupy my dearest supportive followers.'


Kara when she was on the show - with her now boyfriend Artem


For all those who prefer the idea of a famous type on the panel (us, us, we always love a famous type), you can also get odds on Jill Halfpenny (8/1) or Kara Tointon (12/1).

Russell Grant is in the running for the slot on the panel


Other names on the list include Darcey Bussell, who was on the show as a guest judge recently, at 6/1 and Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey at 8/1. 

Nancy Dell'Olio - err, that would be a weird choice


Nancy Dell'Olio - who was on Strictly as a contestant this year and was, er, 'challenged' in the dance skills department - is also on the list at 33/1, alongside Russell Grant - another of this year's contestants - at 16/1 and professional dancer Erin Boag at 10/1.

This is all well and good and that, but WHAT ABOUT US? We did some cracking moves on New Year's Eve and no-one's even made us a rank outsider.
 

For our verdict on who should replace Alesha, click here.