Dancing on Ice 2011 - The final skate-off

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

THE months of hard work and training had now really paid off.  For Sam Attwater, Laura Hamilton or Chloe Madeley, one of them would join the Dancing on Ice hall of fame as a champion.  The decision would be made entirely by the public and they had two performances to impress them.

     In the first performance, each finalist performed a “final showcase” in which they were able to produce, choreograph, and devise their own routine to a certain theme.  Along with the aid of their professional partner, they also each worked with up to four additional pros in the routine.

     First up with competition favourites Sam & Brianne with a footloose themed number, joined by Frankie Poultney, Dan Whiston, Nina Ulanova and Matt Evers.  In a show first, the showcase contained not one, not two but three headbangers, all at the same time!  Very risky, but it was pulled off and with the rest of the performance nailed to perfection, it deserved the first 10 marks of the competition.

SAFE: Laura's first performance was a bit too secure

     Next was Laura’s turn.  She and Colin were assisted by Sylvain Longchambon and Mark Hanretty, being very brave in only going for two extra pros.  Though, the setting and presentation was spectacular, the gamble didn’t seem to pay off and was considered by the judges as a little too safe.  Finally, Chloe and Michael were accompanied by Alexandra Schumann, Lukasz Rozycki, Jodeyne Higgins and Sean Rice for a Dirty Dancing inspired routine.  As with Laura, it didn’t really show much of Chloe’s strengths or expose any weaknesses but the marks were a tad unfair as it seem a little bit better than Laura’s. 

SHOWCASE SCORES

Sam & Brianne 29.5

Laura & Colin 26.0

Chloe & Michael 25.5

REVEALED: Jason removes his hat to praise Laura

For their second routine before the first elimination, each couple would re-enact a routine from a previous week and tweak it a little to ensure it got higher marks than before.  Firstly, Sam performed his Riverdance themed routine from Week 8.  Perfecting the traditional Irish dance was on his cards and it worked but was left astounded when the judges’ only gave him half mark improvements on last time.  With the highest score out of all previous routines to be done in this round, the omens were good for Laura to match Sam in earning a 10 mark.  Her dance to ‘I’m So Excited’, as first done on the ninth week, it did the job in acquiring a 10…only for it to achieve a perfect score!  The praise led to judge Jason Gardiner finally removing his hat after 12 weeks to reveal a huge growth of hair!  Last up, Chloe went back to her Bollywood inspired routine.  A huge risk considering it wasn’t her highest scoring routine of the series so it was just a case of getting as high as she could, and that was easily achieved.

PREVIOUS ROUTINE SCORES

Laura & Colin 30.0

Sam & Brianne 28.5

Chloe & Michael 28.5

TOTAL SCORES

Sam & Brianne 58.0

Laura & Colin 56.0

Chloe & Michael 54.0

CONSISTENT: However, it wasn't enough to get Chloe to skate the Bolero

Dancing on Ice had never experienced a tighter final than this before with just six points separating the final three.  Sam was still the front-runner but with Laura’s maximum score putting her right into contention and Chloe’s consistency of convincing the public, this was not going to be an easy decision as to which two couples would skate the Bolero.

     In the end, the result was as widely predicted.  Sam and Laura advanced into the skate-off for the title and Chloe exited in third place.  In the Bolero skate, Sam did his right to near-perfection whilst Laura struggled with what content to put in and that would prove to be her undoing and a sloppy first half to the routine handed Sam the title on a plate.

WINNERS: Sam and Brianne are 2011 champions

     Most people would have been convinced that Sam was simply showing off throughout most of the competition but no one could deny that his Bolero was completely the better and deserved to win.  He like Laura and Chloe came into the competition as unknowns, rarely mentioned in the public spotlight but they will prove to be all winners as their heroics have acquired them a huge fanbase and all three will move on to bigger and better opportunities.

     Overall, despite a thrilling final, the verdict on the series has been very lacklustre with many people saying these huge changes to the show’s format hasn’t worked and it has in fact, sent the show backwards.  ITV will undoubtedly want to call an urgent meeting of the producers to discuss what went wrong and decide on how to make it better next year.  I’m not one to judge on this issue but I think I have to be fair and say it could have done better and maybe this format can do another series and then decide which direction the show is heading from then.

     However, amongst the rather criticism and questionable choice of the public, everyone has congratulate Sam Attwater for becoming Dancing on Ice Champion 2011.  Once again, the pre-competition favourite has triumphed in sensational fashion.

Dancing on Ice 2011 - The semi-final

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

THEY thought it would be tough but never this tough.  For Chloe, Johnson, Laura and Sam, they had to learn how to skate on their own in a pressurised task to reach this Sunday’s Dancing on Ice final.

Chloe Madeley

Out of all of the final four, Chloe had the public advantage as she had never been in the skate-off.  Her main performance was once again pleasing, but a nasty fall when her and pro partner Michael Zenzini’s blades became tangled lost her vital marks and in her solo routine, she didn’t really put much emphasis and it lacked momentum as a result.

COUPLES SCORE: 21.0

SOLO SCORE: 20.0

ACCUMULATED TOTAL: 51.0/60.0 (3rd)

Johnson Beharry

MEAN: Jason Gardiner criticised Johnson's performance, AGAIN!

People will indeed question why he is still here but the fact is, Johnson just hasn’t given up and so deserves to be here on merit.  The main performance was the best that he could deliver in the situation but it did wind the criticism of a certain Mr. Gardiner.  His solo skate was a real letdown, no energy and no commitment; it was certainly the worst week to expose his weakness.

COUPLES SCORE: 18.5

SOLO SCORE: 15.5

ACCUMULATED TOTAL: 34.0/60.0 (4th)

Laura Hamilton

The headbanger move really needs some guts and skill to pull off and Laura has that to the core.  In a situation where she really wanted to assert herself as front-runner, it was something she had to execute and did…by just the narrowest of margins.  The solo spot was bang on and she perhaps couldn’t have asked for more as she delivered.

COUPLES SCORE: 28.0

SOLO SCORE: 26.5

ACCUMULATED TOTAL: 54.5/60.0 (2nd)

Sam Attwater

Although he may have lost his way in recent times, Sam’s competitive start still ranks him as competition favourite.  Not wanting to be outdone by rival Laura, he too executed the headbanger, and also had a very close call with it to cause a tie in the leaderboard after round one.  However, he went one better in the solo round but perhaps the judges scores were somewhat of a safe measure.

COUPLES SCORE: 28.0

SOLO SCORE: 27.5

ACCUMULATED TOTAL: 55.5/60.0 (1st)

The Result

BRAVE: Johnson Beharry has fought hard, but not enough for the final

Only two couples could be assured of spots in the grand final and as widely expected, Sam and Laura earned those places with Chloe and Johnson having to rely on the judge’s decision for the final place.     

     This was Chloe’s first time in the skate-off in Johnson’s second in three weeks.  It is indeed the worst possible time to leave the show but in the end, it was no contest.  Chloe was by far the stronger and earned approval from all three of the judges.  Hard luck on Johnson though.  He has been brave and courageous and thoroughly deserved a standing ovation from the crowd after his elimination.  This will not be the last we hear of him, mark my words.

     However, it is the final that everyone had been predicting and hoping.  Chloe Madeley, Laura Hamilton and Sam Attwater have been the best three skaters this series by far and will do battle in the final.  Next week, they will compete to win Dancing on Ice 2011 and there will be a few changes to its format.  Sadly, the flying routines have gone but what hasn’t changed is the prize for the final two.  They will still get to skate their version of Torvill & Dean’s unique Bolero routine.  Who are you supporting to win?

Dancing on Ice 2010 Final - The Right Winner

After twelve weeks of gripping competition, ITV’s skating hit show, Dancing on Ice came to an end on Sunday night, won deservedly by ex-soap actress Hayley Tamaddon.  Tamaddon, partnered by UK gold medallist and professional Daniel Whiston, starred throughout the entire series, only being toppled off the leaderboard on one of the eleven weeks she skated on.

The final routines saw the three finalists, Tamaddon, Hollyoaks actor Kieran Richardson and The Bill’s Gary Lucy took to the skies, flying in the ice rink studio.  This was followed by all three finalists performing their favourite routine of the series.  Hayley repeated her ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ routine from Movie Week and once again, got perfect scores of 6.0 from the ice panel judges, Karen Barber, Nikki Slater, Jason Gardiner, Emma Bunton and Robin Cousins.  Afterwards, the phone lines were frozen and host Phillip Schofield announced the two couples who would go on to skate their own version of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s famous dance, ‘Bolero.’  ‘Bolero’ won a gold medal for Torvill & Dean at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and has become an iconic moment in UK sporting history.

Richardson was knocked out of the competition, having received the fewest votes from the public, leaving Tamaddon and Lucy free to skate ‘Bolero.’  Hayley’s version was full of buzz, electrifying to watch, whereas Gary Lucy’s was more like the ‘giving up,’ bolero.  Lucy has been labelled as ‘boring’ by Mr. Frosty himself, Jason Gardiner throughout the competition and to be honest; I felt the same way about the majority of his performances.  For him to even get into the final two was a major surprise.  Perhaps people felt sorry for him, as he won’t have an acting job anymore, following ITV’s decision to axe The Bill on Friday afternoon.

The final outcome was expected and relieving.  As the competition progressed, Hayley Tamaddon turned this year’s show into a one-horse race.  Her talents were amazing on the ice, her partnership and friendship with Whiston blossomed and there was little doubt that she was going to end up on top.  ITV’s viewing figures for Series 5 dropped quite significantly and maybe it is time to review the celebrity selection process or make some gambles in the set-up of the show to keep it afloat and the public’s interest at heart.  Series five had its moments throughout such as Sharron Davies’s controversy to change the music and choreography of one of her routines, Dr. Hillary Jones inability to skate and Heather Mills’s bravery which won her some new supporters and earned her a load creditability and respect back from a previously tarnished reputation.  However, more competition is probably needed to make the long- term success of this show a sustainable one.  There can be no doubt though that the right individual won the 2010 contest.    

Dancing on Ice - Seven Down, Seven Remain

Fourteen celebrities, seven have departed and now only seven remain, the crème of the crop in the 2010 version of ITV’s skating show, Dancing on Ice.  Under the guidance of the fantastic ice double and gold medallists at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the aim is for these celebrities, paired with a professional skater to turn themselves from bumbling buffoons on the ice, into skating perfectionists.  The prize at the end is worth it, the chance to skate the famous routine ‘Bolero,’ with the chance to become Dancing on Ice champion for 2010.

The show is now in its 5^th series and gets better with each year.  Show-stopping performances, a mean grilling from the ice-panel and the crazy costumes worn, make it a must-hit for Sunday night entertainment.  Dancing on Ice is a show for all the family to enjoy, and it is a relaxing form of entertainment, away from the dramatic soap operas, tension-filled sporting moments and gritty drama that dominate our TV schedules.  No wonder why over ten million viewers tune in every weekend.  This show has rekindled the nation’s love of ice skating.

The show has already bid farewell to seven celebrities, including GMTV medic Dr. Hillary Jones, 80’s pop sensation Sinitta, Olympic swimmer Sharon Davies and cooking author and wife of Gordon, Tana Ramsay.  Some have not been helped by the strange comments from the inconsistent Nikki Slater and the vile sayings from Mr. Frosty himself, Jason Gardiner.  Also making up the judging team is Karen Barber, assistant coach to the amateur skaters, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and former Olympic figure skating champion Robin Cousins.  Recently, whilst Robin has been away, commentating on the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, guest judges have stepped in, in the form of classical artist Michael Ball and newsreader Angela Rippon.

The favourite for the crown this year is star of the West End and former soap actress, Hayley Tamaddon.  Hayley has topped the leaderboard ever single week so far, and together with professional partner, Daniel Whiston, look tough to beat on their current form.  However, she doesn’t have the clear advantage that Ray Quinn had on everyone in the last series.  Her closest challengers are likely to be ex-Dream Team and Footballers Wives actor Gary Lucy and EastEnders actress, Daniela Westbrook.  Both have been improving with each passing week, making this year’s contest less predictable to pick a winner.

The dark horse of the competition is Hollyoaks bad boy Kieran Richardson, who has steadily been making the strongest improvement out of any of the remaining skaters.  Completing the remaining celebrities in the show are Boyzone heartthrob, Mikey Graham, ex-Coronation Street actor Danny Young, who has been stuck on a total of 17.0points for the past five weeks, much to the chagrin of his partner, British adagio skater Frankie Poultney and the Inbetweeners comedian, Emily Atack, who has done well to reach this stage, after a barrage of scathing criticism from the judges.

Four weeks left of the hit show and anything can happen, especially with Prop week coming very soon, often a trip-up for one of the favourites.  Hayley may be the one to catch, but who will add their list to Gaynor Faye, Kryan Bracken, Suzanne Shaw and Ray Quinn as a Dancing on Ice Champion is anyone’s guess.