Meet Alex Jones and the Controversial Cast of 'Strictly Come Dancing' [VIDEO]

Strictly Comes Dancing, Britain's answer to Dancing With the Stars, has announced the cast of its ninth series (British for season.)

The oddball crew of the popular BBC ballroom dancing competition show includes an astrologist, a boxer, a celebutante, a bad boy, and a former MP (that's Member of Parliament to silly Americans.)

As far as we can tell, there are no transgender contestants, but in 2010 Strictly Come Dancing was the target of uproar similar to the U.S. audience's response to Chaz Bono on DWTS, after SCD paired lesbian sports presenter Gili Shem Tov with a female professional dancer (the dancer was heterosexual).

Meet the full cast below, and watch/listen to them talk (in their lovely accents) about being cast on SCD (in alphabetical order):

Alex Jones: Welsh One Show presenter:

Anita Dobson: Former EastEnders actress (After the jump)

Audley Harrison: Boxer

Chelsee Healey: Waterloo Road actress

Dan Lobb: Daybreak Sports Editor

Edwina Currie: Former MP

Harry Judd : McFly drummer

Holly Valance: Neighbours actress, popstar

Jason Donovan: Neighbours actor

Lulu: Singer, star of To Sir With Love

Nancy Dell'Olio: Lawyer and ex-girlfriend of Sven-Göran Eriksson