Dancing on Ice 2012

[Ome]

Jennifer's close call last night looked worse than what it was. Did you guys see the repeat of this in the Skate Off show?


Ouch!

[Englishboy]

Did you guys see the repeat of this in the Skate Off show?

No, I very rarely watch the results show these days.

Apparently, the show has been hit by a ratings slump. Sunday's offering pulled in just under 7 million (well down on the 9 million plus viewers it was attracting in its prime) with the results show wowing a little over 5.5 million.

The decline in viewing numbers comes following ITV's decision to dump Jason Gardiner (the BEST thing about DOI in my opinion ) from the ice panel and the departure of Holly Willoughby who's left to present The Voice on the BBC.

Things started to go wrong last year IMO with the changed set and the reduced numbers on the panel. And then ITV made the catastrophic error of dumping Jason Gardiner who IS Mr Dancing on Ice.

I actually preferred it when they had Nicky (who is missed), Karen, Jason, Robin and Another on the panel and feel the format worked better with 5 judges.

There's a saying 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. ITV are obviously determined to learn that lesson the hard way.

[Ome]

The show is definitely not the same without Jason. I was really pleased they ditched Emma, but question why they thought Katarina would be any better.

We Sky+ so we can forward the Skate Off, however we do like to see the background comments during the previously VTs.

[Englishboy]

It's a double elimination tonight.

It feels almost as though there hasn't been a gimmick free week this season.

The thing that makes me laugh about it all is now that the ratings are in decline ITV are speculating that the public are simply growing tired of the format yet they tinker with it and change the key ingredients that made it a success and then wonder why nobody watches it.

All the good talent and reality shows have always had and need a good panto villain on the judging panel from Craig on Strictly, Simon on the X Factor and even going all the way back to New Faces with Tony Hatch and later, Nina Myskow. Dancing on Ice is no exception.

If ITV have any sense they should go bowing and scraping, cap in hand to Jason and offer him a big pay rise to return to the programme HE made famous. I'd also favour a panel with at least 4 if not 5 judges on it. That way if you have a couple of judges (Louie and Katarina) who are fitting in like a foot in a glove it's not as noticeable as they will receive less airtime. I also think they should offer Nicky Slater a spot on the show who I always thought was an excellent judge.

With just Louie, Katarina and Robin on the panel, it's too safe, too bland, too boring.

ITV have absolutely ruined one of my favourite shows and the fact that they feel the need to come up with a new gimmick seemingly every week smacks of desperation on their part in my opinion.

In fact, it's in such a state that if I were ITV I'd seriously consider making some changes mid season.

But as things stand and without any changes to the show I think this will be my final year as a viewer of DOI.

[Ome]

Can not argue with anything you've said Englishboy


We watched the X Factor last year, first time since Leona Lewis won the show. Didn't enjoy any of the live shows, and loathed that little twist they had getting rid of one act from each group.

I am finding the same thing with this year's DOI, too many changes for the sake of it. It's not working.

Why can't they see what damage they did to the X Factor last year and the same damage they are doing with DOI.

[Ome]

Having said that, I will admit I've very curious about tonight's skate-off. We will see 3 contestants skate on their own for the whole performance.

[Englishboy]

We will see 3 contestants skate on their own for the whole performance.

Interesting, I did not know that. I can't really imagine Heidi skating the performance alone. I wonder what she'll do if she ends up in the skate off?

The other thing about DOI this year, which was also a trait of X Factor, is the ridculous number of commerical breaks and amount of adverts they're showing. I know they have to make revenue from the programme but surely they could do that and still fit tonight's programme into an hour and fifteen minutes. As it is, it's on for 5 minutes short of 2 hours which in itself is a turn off for anyone watching it live.

[Ome]

Well it truly was heartbreaking tonight, I really felt for those three in the skate-off. Horrible way to go, but ever so exciting.


Maybe this would have been better towards the final.

[Englishboy]

Heidi should have definitely gone who was undoubtedly the worst last night and probably also Jennifer.

I didn't see the skate off but sad to see Sebastian bow out who has been a top 4 skater this year although last night's was probably one of his weaker performances.

Chemmy clearly doesn't have a fanbase and seems to be in the bottom two almost every week. I can't really see her being in the competition much longer.

[Ome]

If you get the chance Englishboy, watch the second half of the Skate-Off, it was very tense.

[Englishboy]

I was dreading 'Rock Week' but I think it's actually been my favourite show so far.

From the great opening number by the cast of Rock of Ages to the cracking backing tracks that many of tonight's routines have been set to.

Also, pro skater, Matt Evers did well not to lose his eye in that nasty accident with Jorgie during rehearsals yesterday I thought.

There weren't really any weak performances. However, I do think that there are some inconsistencies in the scoring and it's clear the judges have their favourites, in particular Matt and Nina who I personally didn't think were worthy of the massive score they were awarded tonight.

It's too close to call but it should really be Sam and Andy, whose performance (despite what he might think) packed all the emotion of a dead fish, in the bottom two tonight.

Meanwhile, DOI's ratings are continuing to drop like a lead balloon. Last week's show attracted just 6.8 million viewers - its smallest ever audience.

Personally, I blame the involvement of ex 'flop' Daybreak presenter, Christine Bleakley. She appears to have the midas touch in reverse. Everything she touches turns to UK GOLD

[Ome]

I was dreading 'Rock Week' but I think it's actually been my favourite show so far.

I wish I could say the same, but truth is I didn't enjoy any of it. Okay I enjoyed Jorgie's haunting performance, but the rest of the show was a real bore.

I do enjoy a good trip to the theatre, but after seeing the Rock of Ages performance, I thought that is one show I don't need to bother with.

Also, pro skater, Matt Evers did well not to lose his eye in that nasty accident with Jorgie during rehearsals yesterday I thought.

That was the more interesting part of the show, along with their performance. It certainly woke me up for a few minutes.

There weren't really any weak performances.

True and yet it still wasn't good enough to keep me entertained.

Meanwhile, DOI's ratings are continuing to drop like a lead balloon. Last week's show attracted just 6.8 million viewers - its smallest ever audience.

I agree with your thoughts on Christine Bleakley, but I think another reason is they are trying too hard to to change it.

It's lost that spark for me, what has happened to all big glittery costumes? Only to replace them with jeans and a tee-shirt these days.

I'm also not impressed by how they open many of the dance routines, either with props like the bed, drums etc... or with 15 second dance moves where they don't actually skate.

Personally, I blame the involvement of ex 'flop' Daybreak presenter, Christine Bleakley. She appears to have the midas touch in reverse. Everything she touches turns to UK GOLD

Ha ha

[Barbara Fan]

Ive switched off now that CT is out of it - but usually try and see the guy called matt online as he is great

I had never seen Christine Bleakley before this show - all i can say is many progs are wasting their money!!!!!!!!!!

looks like she needs a script, bit bland and zilch chemistry with Philip scofield!

[Englishboy]

I wasn't particularly blown away by any of tonight's performances to be honest with you despite the sky high scores being handed down by the judges.

It all just felt a bit flat to me. In fact, I don't think I would have given any couple more than a seven.

I've gone off Andy a little after his beligerance towards the judges last week. He seems to be taking himself a bit too seriously and thinking about it too much & as a result his performance comes across as stilted rather than flowing naturally.

I actually felt that Chemmy was the worst tonight despite getting 8.5s across the board. She seemed a bit unsteady on her feet to me & I got the impression that her skating partner was doing most of the work.

Also, I can't say I was particularly impressed by this week's gimmick, the team challenge.

Another desperate attempt on the part of ITV to resuscitate the lifeless corpse.

I don't know what it was but it all just came across as a bit boring to me. I think ITV have killed this show.

My best guess is that next year's series will be its last.

[Ome]

Ha!!

I too wasn't that impressed with the show, to the point I forgot about this thread..

It seems to be just going through the motion now. Even Jorgie & Matthew (who I love) didn't really have the spark.

I can't put my finger on it, is it the lack of Jason, or Holly, or is it the constant need to change things?

I didn't think Andy did anything to warrant his highest score the other night, nor did I understand when Robin said Chemmy had skated the best of the series, like you I thought she looked unsteady at times.

I didn't mind the girls performance, but when I heard the boys were doing YMCA I just lost all respect. What is next week, The Locomotion or the Macarena?

[Ome]

I thought Louie had lost the plot a few weeks back, but after scoring Jorgie with 6.5 last night, only confirmed my thoughts.

[Englishboy]

I thought Louie had lost the plot a few weeks back, but after scoring Jorgie with 6.5 last night, only confirmed my thoughts.

Matt & Nina have been the stand out contestants this year. I also like Chico and Jodeyne although it appears that Chico hasn't got the popular vote.

I think Jorgie is over rated and although Louie only rated her a 6.5, all the other judges also scored her below the other contestants (albeit not by such a wide margin) so she would have still ended up bottom of the leader board.

[Ome]

Matt & Nina have been the stand out contestants this year. I also like Chico and Jodeyne although it appears that Chico hasn't got the popular vote.

I think Jorgie is over rated and although Louie only rated her a 6.5, all the other judges also scored her below the other contestants (albeit not by such a wide margin) so she would have still ended up bottom of the leader board.

It wasn't just his score, it was some of his comments too, at one point it looked like he was trying to justify his low score because she only had one prop or the routine was bland. After others pointed out this wasn't the doing of Jorgie, he then moves on to say she lacked any emotion.

I have no problem if she finished at the bottom when there's only a few contestants left, but what I don't understand how last week he gave her a score of 9 and then drop it to a 6.5.

[Englishboy]

I have no problem if she finished at the bottom when there's only a few contestants left, but what I don't understand how last week he gave her a score of 9 and then drop it to a 6.5.

Inconsistent scoring from the judges has been a running weakness of this series and I think it's clear that some of the judges do have their favourites amongst the contestants.

Nevertheless, I do think that Jorgie's routine on Sunday was lacking in technical content although I do take on board what you say re. the choreography being given to them by Torvill & Dean and the competitors having little to no say in this.

[Englishboy]

I only caught some of this show from Jorgie's performance onwards on ITV1+1 last night (I missed both Jennifer and Chico's routines).

However, it certainly looks as though the best three contestants have won through to next week's final.

I also think Jorgie deserved to find herself in the bottom two last night. Although Matt & Nina had a bit of a hiccup coming out of the headbanger move I preferred their performance overall. It packed more into it and was a fun, uplifting number

And Jorgie's head went nowhere near the ice last night.