Dancing On Ice has entered the serious part of the competition now as 6 champions remain on the ice.
The competition is getting tougher and tougher as the standard is higher than it’s ever been before. For an added twist this week it was Team Ray against Team Hayley as the remaining contestants battled to gain double points ahead of the public vote later in the evening.
The team event followed the skating of all six couples and all of the celebrities had everything to fight for. Judge Robin Cousins was still commentating on the winter Olympics so Nicky Slater joined the panel for a second week as Karen Barber was promoted once again to head judge.
Kicking off the evening tonight was Beth Tweddle with her partner Lukasz Rozycki. The couple did really well last week finishing third on the leaderboard. In training Beth was given some tough choreographer and a trick that no female celebrity has been given on the show before. Tonight Beth and Lukasz skated to Hairspray’s You Can’t Stop The Beat.
What a way to open the show. Beth is really blossoming as a performer this week so surely the judges can’t criticise her for lack of personality this week can they?
Beth and Lukasz were awarded 34.0 out of 40 from the judges.
Karen said Beth’s 9 was well-deserved and told her she ticks every box for her. Jason said the choreography was strong but told her she needed more commitment to exuberance and fun. Nicky agreed with Jason but said Beth didn’t present as well as her fellow actress competitors. Ashley said she wanted to give Beth a higher score and told her she needs to let loose next week.
Hayley Tamaddon was the next onto the ice with her partner Dan Whiston. Hayley has been upping her game every week and is now the female contestant to beat. During last week’s show Hayley showed a more restrained side of her abilities stunning both the judges and the audience. In training Hayley and Dan vowed to improve and get better week-after-week. Hayley and Dan skated to Skyscraper by Sam Bailey.
Another beautiful performance from Hayley and Dan tonight. Performance-wise they are the best in the competition. Did the judges agree?
Hayley and Dan were awarded 34.5 out of 40 from the judges.
Ashley said it was a very emotional piece and praised the couple’s connection. Jason said it was incredibly expressive and emotive telling Hayley she was a great storyteller. Karen said Hayley’s artistic mark will always be better than her technical mark. Interesting. We thought she was really good!
Kyran Bracken was the third on the ice tonight with his partner Nina Ulanova. Last week Kyran didn’t get huge praise from the judges but he still sailed through on the public vote. In his intro VT he admitted to Nina that he didn’t want to be the first of the 6 champions to leave the competition. Kyran revealed that he was incredibly critical of himself which he blamed on being a sportsman. Kyran and Nina skated to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ Can’t Hold Us.
What a mess that routine was! Kyran was all over the place and we gasped when Nina lost her footing (and nearly her fingers!).
Kyran and Nina were awarded 33.0 out of 40 from the judges.
Nicky said that Kyran attacked from the off but revealed he scored him down slightly due to the slips. Ashley said Kyran gave it too much pizazz but told him he’s coming out of his shell. Jason agreed with Ashley and said the gusto made him lose control. Karen said Kyran was fast and committed but told him he can’t make mistakes at this point in the competition.
Suzanne Shaw and Matt Evers were the next couple to skate. Over the past few weeks Suzanne and Matt have struggled to get high scores and haven’t lived up to the first week where they blew everyone away. In training Karen revealed that Suzanne needs to step it up and get it all right. Tonight Suzanne and Matt skated to Black Velvet by Alannah Myles.
It was a very different and sexy performance from Suzanne and Matt tonight. Surely it was deserving of decent points?
Suzanne and Matt were awarded 37.0 out of 40 from the judges.
Karen said Suzanne’s 10 was well-earned and thanked her for a wonderful performance. Nicky said that Suzanne and Matt did a steamy performance which he called ‘super’. Ashley said Suzanne was sizzling on the ice. Jason said Suzanne was back in the race but told her to watch some of the landings.
Ray Quinn was the penultimate star to skate tonight with his partner Maria Filippov. Throughout the competition so far Ray has led the way in terms of points and skill and last week he caused a row between Nicky and Jason. During training Ray admitted he was putting in the hours to be as professional a skater as he can be. Ray and Maria skated to Ed Sheeran’s Lego House.
Another beautiful performance from Ray and Maria this week. Is there nothing they can’t do? Top of the leaderboard no problem.
Ray and Maria were awarded 40 out of 40 from the judges for the second time this series.
Nicky said that Ray was the whole package complimenting his attention to detail. Jason said that Ray doesn’t require tricks or lifts to get high scores. Ashley said it’s the little things that Ray does that makes his performance so beautiful. Holding back the tears Karen said that Ray and Maria skate as equals.
Last to skate tonight was Sam Attwater and his partner Vicky Ogden. Something about Sam just isn’t connecting with the audience at home and he can’t seem to keep out of the bottom two this series. Last week he was in the bottom two for the third time and he has vowed to do whatever he can to stay out of the bottom two. During training Sam worked on smiling and having fun with his routine. Tonight Sam and Vicky skated to Happy by Pharrell Williams.
A better performance from Sam tonight but we don’t think he’s the best skater in the competition. Will he stay out of the bottom two this week?
Sam and Vicky were awarded 37.0 out of 40 from the judges.
Karen said Sam had fun on the ice and did well tonight. Nicky told Sam he was light on his feet and related to Vicky really well. Jason told Sam he was doing very well but told him he knows he can do even better. Ashley said the musicality was nice and told Sam she had fun with him.
The leaderboard for the evening after all the couples skated was:
Ray Quinn and Maria Filippov – 40.0
Sam Attwater and Vicky Ogden – 37.0
Suzanne Shaw and Matt Evers – 37.0
Hayley Tamaddon and Dan Whiston – 34.5
Beth Tweddle and Lukasz Rozycki – 34.0
Kyran Bracken and Nina Ulanova – 33.0
Once all the couples had skated it was time for the team challenge with the girls versus the boys. Whoever claimed victory would double their points for the evening pretty much ensuring they wouldn’t end up in the bottom two during tonight’s results show.
Team Hayley were first and skated to Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles. We thought they did a great job and the performance level was very high. All three women skated to the same level and there was a great chemistry in the group.
Team Ray followed and skated to Uptown Girl by Billy Joel. A decent performance by the guys but Kyran and Sam are nowhere near the skater that Ray is. Surely the girls will walk this challenge?
It was over to the judges to pick their favourite team. Nicky chose Team Ray. Ashley chose Team Ray. Jason chose Team Ray. Karen chose Team Ray. That meant the boys won the challenge. We’re not entirely sure what the judges saw but we don’t agree with that result at all!
The final leaderboard for the evening was:
Ray Quinn and Maria Filippov – 80.0
Sam Attwater and Vicky Ogden – 74.0
Kyran Bracken and Nina Ulanova – 66.0
Suzanne Shaw and Matt Evers – 37.0
Hayley Tamaddon and Dan Whiston – 34.5
Beth Tweddle and Lukasz Rozycki – 34.0
Tune into the results show at 8.30pm tonight on ITV to find out which couple will be going home.
