Rachel is Strictly favourite

29 August 2008 12:38pm

Rachel Stevens is the early bookies' favourite to win the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Ladbrokes have installed the former S Club 7 star as the 3-1 favourite.

Holby City actor Tom Chambers has the shortest odds of the men at 6-1, while One show presenter Christine Bleakley is also 6-1.

Former ITN political editor John Sargeant is the outside at 50-1, with Gillian Taylforth, Phil Daniels and Gary Rhodes all given long odds of 33-1.

At the series launch, show host Bruce Forsyth joked about rumours that Zara Phillips was due to be taking part.

Show host Bruce Forsyth joked: "Zara Phillips was supposed to be in this series. She actually started rehearsals but her horse couldn't do the foxtrot."

He added: "Ronnie Corbett desperately wanted to do the show but he wanted to change the format. He wanted to dance with Jordan and she was up for it.

"They started rehearsals but poor Ronnie had a terrible accident and fell into her cleavage. It took 14 hours to prize him out.

"We had contractual difficulties with Sharon Osbourne. She wanted a special clause in the contract that she could walk out of the show every other week."

Of speculation that he would leave after the end of this series, he said: "This rumour is true. I know it's true because I started it. I always start my own rumours because then I know where it comes from."

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