When it comes to Strictly Come Dancing, most eyes are on the celebs rather than their professional dance partners. At least, that’s the official version. The reality may be somewhat different.

By definition, the dancers tend to be relatively young, fit, agile and rather alluring to viewers of both sexes and of all persuasions. And one of Strictly’s latest male dancers is certainly proving a hit with most of the ladies (and perhaps quite a few of the men) tuning in to the BBC’s Strictly each Saturday teatime.

Siberia’s own Pasha Kovalev, who specialises in Latin dance and who partners Manchester-born Chelsee Healey is one of the favourites to take the eventual top-slot at the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom in December. Those following the Strictly Come Dancing odds should remember this.

With his brown hair and brown eyes, the 5’10″, the Russian Kovalev, aged 31, looks like every woman’s dream with his smouldering good looks and athleticism. In fact, he looks a bit more Latin than Latvian – which perhaps explains his specialism when it comes to dance.

So perhaps a good proportion of the public’s votes are based more on Pasha’s good looks than Chelsee’s dancing ability? Anyone looking at the Strictly Come dancing winner odds needs to ask themselves this.

Pasha was a US National Latin Finalist in the years 2001-2006, an Ohio Star Ball Finalist 2001-2005 and a “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 3 Finalist and All Star.

He also appeared on the “So You Think You can Dance” Live Tour in 2007, and on the Australian version of “So You Think You can Dance” as a guest choreographer.

Pasha started dancing when he was eight years old before training formally in Ballroom Dancing. He has taught all styles of ballroom including International Standard, American Smooth and Rhythm but his specialty is International Latin.

If you’re the kind of Strictly Come Dancing fan who also likes to put his money where his or her mouth is – then maybe Russell Grant is going to be this series’ dark horse.

The diminutive astrologer’s popularity is clearly growing by the week and The BBC appears to have latched onto this – saving Russell’s dances for the top slot it would seem. Those looking at the Strictly Come Dancing betting should remember this.

Of course, no-one in their right mind would suggest that Russell is the best dancer – and the last person to do so would be the man himself. But that’s what the audience loves. Does anyone remember Series 3 winners Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova’s steady progress through the field back in 2005?

Darren was given very little chance by the bookies but the UK public gradually warmed to the Yorkshire cricketer’s honesty and, above all, his hard work to steadily improve his dancing. He was never going to be the world’s best ballroom dancer. He knew it and we all did at home. But no-one worked harder for the prize and so it was rightfully his. That’s what Strictly is really all about.

So if the eventual winner really is an entertaining trier, then Russell Grant has to be this season’s value bet. His odds are still as high as 25-1 with some major bookmakers. Even Ann Widdecombe and her dancing partner    Anton du Beke managed a respectable sixth place in Series 8 – the series eventually won by EastEnders actress Kara Tointon and her partner Artem Chigvintsev – so anything can happen!  The Strictly Come dancing winner odds reflect this.

If they are to win, then Russell and Flavia will have to overcome five couples currently at shorter odds. At the moment, Harry Judd and Aliona are the bookmakers’ favourites with best odds available of around 7/4, followed closely by Jason Donovan and Kristina at 11/4.

But Russell’s 25-1 odds look sorely tempting.

Singing sensation Lulu and her professional dance partner Brendan Cole divided the judges with their lifts, McFly’s Harry Judd and his professional dancer partner Aliona Vilani jived like Greased Lightning and The One Show’s Alex Jones and professional partner RobinWindsor impressed with their quick step in the Broadway episode of Strictly Come Dancing 2011.

Lulu’s hard work is starting to pay off and it has seen her improve after a fairly poor start to the show, but this week’s episode saw the pair penalised after an ‘illegal’ lift. Strictly judges Craig Revel Horwood and Len ‘Se-Ven’ Goodman disagreed over the lift, with the former penalising the two with a low score of only five points. The audience at home and in the studio seemed to love the lift however, and Lulu called Brendan her very own Patrick Swayze. People looking at the Strictly Come Dancing betting will have been impressed.

Next week, Lulu and Brendan will be performing the samba; a dance which has seen Brendan getting booted out of the competition on four previous occasions. The samba is renowned for being a dance of complicated and varied rhythms. Will Lulu succumb to Brendan’s samba curse too, or will the pair live to dance another day? Anyone looking for Strictly Come Dancing tips will have to ponder this question.

There’ll be eleven different styles of dance performed in next week’s Strictly Come Dancing, including the American Smooth, the Salsa, the Rhumba, the Samba, the Foxtrot, the Cha Cha Cha, the Quick Step, the Viennese Waltz, the Paso Doble and the Hokey Cokey (maybe).

Which of the celebrities will perform each exciting dance, what fabulous outfits will be worn, who’ll be sizzling with sexual chemistry on the dance floor and who’ll be wetter than a November day in Bridlington?

We’ll certainly be staying tuned to find out!

Strictly Come Dancing is not only a prime opportunity for stars to shake their stuff on stage and show the public how versatile they are, it’s renowned for turning around public perception for the less popular strain of celebrity. Just look at Anne Widdecome.

Former Conservative MP and virginal battleaxe Anne didn’t suffer from over popularity before Strictly. It wouldn’t be unfair to say she was in fact distinctly unpopular.

What she certainly wasn’t seen as by the public or by the media, was ‘fun’. But Strictly Come Dancing allowed her to successfully turn around public opinion and clumsily salsa her way into the nation’s favour. Widders was so bad at dancing and yet attempted each routine with such gusto, shaking off the acid-tongued comments of Craig ‘Maltesers’ Horwood, that she became the underdog. And everyone knows that Britain loves an underdog. The Strictly Come Dancing betting reflects this.

As a result, Anne stayed in week after week, despite being much, much worse than those who had gone before her. News presenter and Jo Brand’s twin sister, John Sergeant, experienced the same level of public sympathy and affection during his time on Strictly, when he was kept in week after week to drag his partner around the stage like a sack of Jersey Royals.

John however couldn’t stomach the pity votes, and left of his own accord rather than face the derision of the judges and the humiliation of being forced to stomp around the stage like an injured gorilla anymore. People following the Strictly Come Dancing tips wll remember this.

So, who’ll be the underdog that comes out (almost) on top in this series of Strictly? Early contenders include Lulu, who has much less rhythm than you’d expect from a musical type and Nancy Dell’Olio, who looks drunk and has issues with feather boas. But top of the underdog leader board has to be horoscope fan and lover of tents, Russell Grant.

Russell is nothing if not enthusiastic, waving his arms manically as he lollops round the stage like an overenthusiastic puppy. A sure-fire vote winner if ever we saw one.