Dancing on Ice 2011 - Battle of the teams

 
By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

JUST six stars remained in Dancing on Ice and the pressured was stepped up even further with the advent of a team challenge.  The skaters would be split into two groups of three and the winning team would gain an advantage in the results.

Denise Welch & Matt Evers

Skated to: Alone

HEATED: Jason had a showdown with Tim Healy

Denise has mainly her supporters to thank for getting this far but is making solid attempts to improve.  It was certainly a better performance than last week but again was lacking the fluidity that was required.  Then things got really heated when her husband, Benidorm actor Tim Healy invaded the stage and had it out with Jason Gardiner.  Imagine if he really had decked him!

Scores: Jason 5.0, Robin 5.0, Emma 5.0                                   

TOTAL: 15.0 (6th)

Jeff Brazier & Isabelle Gauthier

Skated to: Hit the Road Jack

Over these last few weeks we have seen Jeff transform from a no-hoper into a serious contender and its all down to the work he has put in to improve.  This performance again played to his strengths, don’t count him out yet on reaching the final.

Scores: Jason 7.0, Robin 7.5, Emma 8.0                                   TOTAL: 22.5 (4th)

Sam Attwater & Brianne Delcourt

Skated to: Crazy Love

Last week Sam returned to his best with the show’s highest score and now the hunt was on for the 10 marks.  Again, the performance and presentation was very good and divine but some of the flair shown last week was missing.  It didn’t seem to come together when it really mattered.

Scores: Jason 8.5, Robin 8.5, Emma 8.5                                   TOTAL: 25.5 (3rd)

Chloe Madeley & Michael Zenzini

Skated to: Empire State of Mind

Recent outings have shown that Chloe is still willing to fight and get on the same level as Sam and Laura.  Not only this routine stated this intent, she took beyond another barrier to score two crucial 9 marks and outscore Sam.  It was a performance fully deserving of the high marks.

Scores: Jason 8.5, Robin 9.0, Emma 9.0                                   TOTAL: 26.5 (2nd)

Johnson Beharry & Jodeyne Higgins

Skated to: You Are So Beautiful

You just have to commend Johnson for the bravery and effort he is putting into his performances, even if isn’t up the standard that it should be at this point in the competition.  To be honest, this was actually the first time that everything went right in a routine for him and getting the best reward in a huge improvement of the scores.

Scores: Jason 5.5, Robin 6.0, Emma 6.0                                   TOTAL: 17.5 (5th)

Laura Hamilton & Colin Ratushniak

Scores: I’m So Excited

BEST: Laura produced the top marks

What a different a week makes.  Last week, Laura was staring down shock elimination and this week, she finds herself top again with a new series best.  Something that has helped along the way is that she has built a strong partnership with partner Colin.  If she keeps this up, she can really win it.

Scores: Jason 9.5, Robin 9.5, Emma 9.5           TOTAL: 28.5 (1st)

Team Challenge

The extra reward this week was that three celebrities had the chance to double their scores and perhaps earn certainty of safety from the skate-off.  As the top two skaters, Sam and Laura were appointed to select their teammates for the challenge.  Sam went with Chloe and Johnson whilst Laura was assisted by Jeff and Denise.

     Sam’s team focused of course on the technique and ability to perform whilst Laura’s team opted for a more presentational style in their performance.  The judges were to decide who won the challenge, and based on both performances, it seemed too close to call though many would believe Sam’s side would just edge it.  However both Jason Gardiner and Emma Bunton yet again showed their stupidity and overruled head judge Robin Cousins’ vote to see Laura’s team win the challenge.

The Result

GRACIOUS: Denise and Matt made a dignified exit

The team challenge kept Laura at the top of board whilst Denise moved from last to third, sending Johnson to last place and Sam into the bottom two. However, because of his natural talent, it wasn’t a surprise that Sam would receive the necessary votes to survive.  Despite earning double points, Denise was sent into the skate-off alongside Johnson, for both their first time in this situation.

     It was again a simple decision for the judges.  Johnson was able to provide more and so earned a clean sweep of votes.  It was tough luck for Denise, she has done very well, but in this stage of the competition, the best skaters must stay.

     Next week is something that has to be always included in DOI, props week.  So, expect familiar items like a chair and an umbrella to be involved but then again, we may see the likes of a bed or even a piano involved.

National Television Awards 2011 - A night of expected winners

By JASON WRIGHT (Entertainment expert)

WEDNESDAY night saw a host of stars from British television descend on London’s O2 Arena for the National Television Awards.  Now in its 16th year, it promised to be the best staged yet.

BIG WINNERS: Another successful night for EastEnders

As it turned out, the successful shows and stars of the night were just as who everyone had predicted.  EastEnders were the big winners, with three gongs.  Ricky Norwood picked the ‘Best Newcomer’ for his role as troublemaker Fatboy, Lacey Turner retained her ‘Best Serial Drama Performance’ award for Stacey Branning and the BBC1 soap itself won through in the live vote-off for ‘Best Serial Drama.’  Many felt it should have gone to rivals Coronation Street, but the Walford drama came through and the crew looked surprised.  So, not even a tram coming down on top of Weatherfield was enough for it to receive any recognition which is certainly rough justice.  Hopefully it will get what it deserves come the British Soap Awards in May.

Popular ITV1 duo Ant and Dec were also among the successes again.  The Tyneside-born pair added yet another two NTA’s to their cabinet for ‘Best Entertainment Programme’ with I’m A Celebrity and scooping up the ‘Best Entertainment Presenter’ award for the tenth time in a row.  Speaking live in Cardiff, where they are filming auditions for Britain’s Got Talent, they understandably gave credit to everyone who helped them succeed not just this year but the ten years they have achieved the Entertainment accolade at the awards.

HONOURED: Sir David Jason added to his collection

Other shows and famous faces that were winners on the night were ITV1 comedy Benidorm, earning the ‘Best Comedy Programme’ award for the second time in three years.  Sir David Jason was honoured with the ‘Best Drama Performance’ award for his final case in A Touch of Frost.  The E4 mega-hit The Inbetweeners beat hot rivals Glee to the inaugural ‘Best Digital Choice’ award, which celebrated the best programme offering from digital channels and This Morning were the victors of the ‘Best Topical Magazine Programme’ award.  After years of struggle and turmoil for the daytime offering, the popular partnership of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby is ensuring that it is finally returning to the glory days of the nineties.  As an added beneficiary, viewers were able to see resident chef Gino D’Acampo cook naked on the following day’s edition, as he pledged to do so if the show won.

With the football sexism scandal caused by the disgraced Richard Keys and Andy Gray fresh in the air, it was being talked about a lot by those in attendance.  Even host Dermot O’Leary referred to it many times during the ceremony but it was Top Gear who had the last laugh and when they picked up the award for ‘Best Factual Programme.’  James May made a rather funny though obviously crude remark about it and it led to Jeremy Clarkson jokingly sacking him on the spot.  That’s what they call comedy around here!

The X-Factor proved to be the dominant force in the award for ‘Best Talent Show’.  Despite the controversy surrounding the previous series and that there were fears that people would rebel and vote against it, the ITV1 competition held on to win for the third time in four years.  No doubt this made Simon Cowell one very happy chap again.

The biggest shock and disappointment of the night was no awards for Doctor Who.  Although its popularity was slightly reduced after Matt Smith’s timid debut last year in the title role, it was still expected to win ‘Best Drama Programme.’  However it lost out to popular school drama Waterloo Road.  To add insult, Smith lost the Drama Performance to David Jason.  This will without a doubt call the show’s viability into serious question.

FINALLY: Bruce Forsyth get a deserved recognition

The biggest cheers though of the night went to the legendary Bruce Forsyth.  After over 50 years in showbiz, the soon-to-be 83 year old was finally given credit with the ‘Special Recognition Award.’  He sent the crowd into dismay and then hysteria by seeming to announce his retirement but then quipping one of his famous one-liners, “but I’m not bloody going to.”   It proves there is still life in the veteran yet.

Overall it was another night of impressive celebrations and accolades, proving just how much Britain really does say about the nation’s TV.  Here is to what should be an amazing 2011 of television and who knows who will come out on top in 2012?  These next 12 months will tell all.