Dancing On Ice 2022.

[Cleoriff]

Yes I know it's early but ITV have started to announce the contestants @Mi-Amigo and @sheepdog (and anyone else interested.

I've read that John Barrowman won't be judging this series. No news on who will replace him.

Today we have the first two contestants.

1) Sally Dynevor.

Sally has played Sally Webster on Coronation Street for 35 years. Aged 58. As I watch Corrie she is well known to me (lol)

2) Mark 'Bez' Berry from Happy Mondays

Already my favourite. Just love him. Mad as a box of frogs but apparently taking this seriously.

At least I know these two... I expect the rest will be announced over the next two weeks.

[Mi-Amigo]

Sun 06 Feb 2022 - Dance Week

Show presented by Holly and Stephen Mulhern [stepping in for Philip who is isolating]

Return of the Judges`s Challenges, which this week was solo spin on one foot with three revolutions

Celebrities -

Rachel & Brendyn - judges commented on timing issues; and she didn`t complete spin in Judges` Challenge.

Score = 25 [which was about right in my opinion]

Sally & Matt - judges commented she skated on her own but was assisted in Judges` Challenge.

Score = 24.5 [improvement on last week, I agree with judges]

Regan & Katrina - judges impressed with his skate; Chris challenged Regan to do an axel in future show.

Score = 35.5 [in my opinion, slightly underscored and was joint best performance of the night]

Stef & Andy - judges commented it was their best performance so far

Score = 29.5 [agree with judges` score]

Kye & Tippy - judges said he performed Challenge well, but slight stumble at end of routine.

Score = 30.0 [agree with judges` score]

Liberty & Joe - judges` commented although she completed Challenge, there were three lifts in routine

Score = 27.5 [agree with judges` score]

Brendan & Vanessa - Chris commented he wants to see him do head-banger

Score = 35.5 [in my opinion, over-scored by judges who is obviously one of their favourites] 

Connor & Alexandra - before show Alexandra`s blade cut his leg; and should have skated first.

Score = 33. 5 corrected - Jane`s score of 9.5 corrected to 8.5 [in my opinion, good skate but not as good as Regan or Kimberley and agree with judges` corrected score] 

Bez & Angela - judges commented Bez did do Challenge, skated on own, and did lunge unaided.

Score = 20.0 [in my opnion, Bez showed a little improvement - but should have left by now.

Kimberley & Mark - judges commented on brilliant performance

Score = 37.5 - with Oli, Jane and Chris each awarding 9.5 which, in my opinion, was over-scored but do think that along with Regan she did the joint performance of the night.

After the break, Alexendra and Lukaz did skate dedicated to Sean Rice 

The results - saved by public vote - in no particular order

Connor; Brendan; Stef; Kimberley; Bez; Regan; Liberty; Sally

Skate-off

Rachel v Kye

All four judges voted to save Kye. Rachel left the competition.

Of the two, I thought Kye did a much better performance in the skate off.

But, in my opinion, it should have been Bez and Sally in the skate-off but once again fan-base saved them.

I enjoyed the show - with two stunning performances - Regan and Katrina, and Kimberely and Mark.

Next week - Favourite Things 

We`re left guessing what that means 😂

[sheepdog]

Good show tonight. I'll kind of gloss over the personality transplant from Philip Schofield to Stephen Mulherne by the scriptwriters. Though guess who'll be the next DOI presenter when Schofield gets his new gig. 

Fell asleep at the end of Liberty Deadpool but woke up half way through Brendan's.  I didn't think anyone completed the judges challenge with any conviction though for some, the intro's did seem to show they were going to smash it. 

So:

Rachel: too safe but competent. The Corrie fanbase is way bigger than the S Club 7 fanbase. 

Sally: the bar is getting higher, needs to improve and not rely on her smile fanbase to save her otherwise its the female equivalent of Bez.

Regan: gets better each week. No doubt a finalist in my mind. 

Stef: this week's massive improver. Did I imagine or did she land on her prosthetic leg after a spin with no flinching? In a dance-off with Liberty/Sally/Bez, Stef's got more ability.

Kye: Groovy man! Awesome stuff, keep it up but keep in time.

Liberty: is english her first language? I really can't understand her. I'm not being nasty about it, I really struggle. Zero marks for not recognising Vogue by Madonna but a disappointing routine really given the potential. Main competition is Sally and Bez's fanbase. 

Brendan: consistent and smoother. He's seen what Regan and Kimberly can do so no holds barred. Has he got the extra wow against those two? With Vanessa, you know its coming. 

Connor: like him but thought he was too fast causing the routine to be messy. Saying that, the injury probably did play a part but good otherwise. Main competition is Kye. 

Bez: please stop. Just like the reason for Bez's career choices - there is no reason for Bez. Adding the ensemble dance troop at the end to deflect the atrociousness of the routine just didn't work. Anyone in a skate-off with Bez just needs to go round in circles and not fall over. 

Kimberly: is this Strictly on Ice??! Though needs to get the technicals right when needed. 

Enjoyed the pro routine immensely. 

As for the skate-off. Wrong people in there again but I'd say Rachel played it too safe against Kye who really showed his ability under pressure. 

[Cleoriff]

Three stand out performances for me tonight. Regan, Brendan and Kimberley.

No secret that the Argentine Tango is my favourite dance, to see it performed on ice so beautifully was an absolute bonus. It's a difficult dance when performed normally so I think to dance it on ice deserved an extra point.

Regan and Brendan are so smooth they will be finalists. (I hope)

Poor Connor. A cut to the chin which started bleeding at the end of his performance was off putting for him.

Sally and Bez should be in the dance off week after week. Let's hope the public start to see sense..

[Cleoriff]

MUSIC CHOICES (Week 5)

Brendan and Vanessa. House of Fun by Madness.

Stef and Andy . I'm Kissing You by Des'ree

Regan and Karina. Shivers by Ed Sheeran.

Sally and Matt. Faith by George Michael.

Connor and Alexandra. Vertigo by U2

Kimberley and Mark. Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.

Kye and Tippy. Supermassive Great Hole by Muse. (Good grief 😂)

Liberty and Joe. Right Round by Flo Rida Ft Kesha

Bez and Angela. Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.

@sheepdog @Mi-Amigo 

[Mi-Amigo]

Thank you for ths week`s songs celebs will be skating/dancing to.

Tbh, a couple of songs I`m not familiar with.

With Bez skating [???? 😂] to Walking On Sunshine, surely this is gonna be the week he leaves ???  

[Cleoriff]

I was more concerned about Kye and Tippy trying to get 90 seconds skating into a Muse song. They are usually dramatic rock anthems which take about 5 minutes to get going. 😂

However I've checked and it's this.....

Which isn't so bad, although still a weird choice.

Wonder what the judges challenge is this week?

[Cleoriff]

Week 5. Favourite Things.

Judges challenge: Circular Step Sequence in sync with partner (and out of hold)

Brendan and Vanessa. He loves DIY. so the routine was based on that.

Excellent skate, smooth and professional. Great judges challenge. I get the feeling the judges don't like Brendan much. Over critical. They wanted more wackiness. Scored 34.00

Kye and Tippy. Loves Gaming. Good routine although transitions are a bit clumsy at times. Good judges challenge. Scored 28.5

Sally and Matt. Loved George Michael, hence the skate to Faith.

A skate with lots of lifts and a very very careful judges challenge. (Stayed out of hold for a minimum time!) Scored 26.5

Kimberley and Mark. Loves true crime.

Superb skate. Very dramatic mainly 'black and white. Completed step sequence well, although Chris thought it was a bit hesitant. Scored 36.5

Liberty and Joe. Loves roller coasters.

Skated well and completed a good judges challenge. A fall at the end spoiled it really. Scored 28.0

Stef and Andy. Loves romantic movies.

Skated very well and performed a difficult step sequence. Great improvement. Scored 34.0

Bez and Angela. Bez loves bees and has been beekeeping for eight years.

WELL!! Still skating with helmet on. Fell over for judges challenge. Time to 'twist your melons man'

Scored 19.5.

Regan and Karina. He loves reptiles.

Excellent skate. However he did stumble twice, once during judges challenge and next time just towards the end. For that reason I think he was overmarked and judges are showing favouritism. Scored 36.5

Connor and Alexandra. He loves skydiving.

Apparently dislocated his shoulder midweek. Despite that he did damn well. Started off on wires as if he was skydiving. A powerful performance and undermarked! Scored 32.0

Skate Off. Kye and Tippy and Liberty and Joe.

Kye and Tippy are saved again. Liberty and Joe are going home. (what a mockery when Bez and Sally are still in!!)

Next Week: Musical Week.

[sheepdog]

@Cleoriff thanks for that Muse clip. I've heard of it before and about but never realised it was Muse. That's on next weeks Westlife-free playlist.

Tonights thoughts....

Holly: cute in barbie pink, Philip: wear a shirt and tie please.

Brendan: did well and has the consistency to be in the final. Were the judges actually saying "be more Bez"?  Vanessa looked very worried in the skate-off announcements. 

Kye: not particularly well executed and its worrying he's not got a level of consistency by now. Big week needed next week.

Sally: She looked good but not progressing. Too much reliance on Matt. 

Kimberly: I like the style and lighting of the routine though I didn't get the routine's narrative. Saying that, it was Pussycat Dolls stuff! Needs more consistency like Brendan and Regan now. Tad overmarked though. 

Liberty: Lacks that wow factor. Not her fault Joel messed up though. 

Stef: Thought this was the best of the evening up to now. I did say she'd be out this week or next but at this rate of improvement, she's in the top 5.

Bez: Talented, showmanship, performance, technical ability. None of those words are applicable. Basically went round in circles (or was that the actual Bee theme?) and not particularly well. Angela's costume detail was really good though. 

Regan: but for the excellently recovered stumbles, tonights best performance. Even then it still was the best of the night. Judges scoring was wrong because there were errors that should have put the score down. 

Connor: Um whinges on about having an injury or two then comes on and does that performance! Then the judges remarked he could do better!!! Oh yes, bring it on. Sally: you have no excuses for being poor. 

As for the skate-off, wrong people in it again. Another fall created by Joel for Liberty but if she'd skated more on her own, I think she would have been the chosen one. Saying that, Kye seems to do better under pressure so was rightly saved. 

Next week, ITV have given Arlene Philips a trial slot in case Oti or Ashley quit at the end of this series. I'm going to guess whatever she says negatively about Bez, he'll still be going through without going in the skate-off. 

[Mi-Amigo]

My thoughts on last night`s DOI

Brendan and Vanessa.

Very good skate and Judges` Challenge. Agreed with judges score but thought judges were more critical of his skate, this week so maybe he`s no longer their favourite ?

Kye and Tippy.

Fairly good routine and Judges` Challenge. Agreed with judges score.

Sally and Matt.

At last Sally skated without holding onto Matt but for very limited period; did do Judges` Challenge - just; but still relying on lifts. Agreed with judges score. 

Kimberley and Mark. 

Skate of the night. Brilliant. Completed Judges Challenge. Well deserved judges score.

Liberty and Joe. 

Good skate and judges challenge. Fall at end, so agree wth judges score.

Stef and Andy.

Much better performance this week, with good step sequence. Agree with judges score.

Bez and Angela.

Tried skating on own; fell over in judges challenge. Agreed with judges score.

Regan and Karina.

Second only to Kimberley in best performance. Unfortunate to stumble in judges challenege and at end, so 

I think he was slightly overmarked by judges. 

Connor and Alexandra.

Excellent skate, seeing he had dislocated his shoulder midweek. Ranked third - behind Kimberley and Regan - in my opinion. Underscored by judges. 

Skate Off. Kye and Tippy and Liberty and Joe.

Kye was better in skate off than Liberty - but neither should have been in skate off which should have been Bez v Sally. When are the public gonna wake up and get rid of the two who cannot skate and make the show a joke ? 

[Cleoriff]

@Mi-Amigo @sheepdog 

I follow the DOI thread on FB and I can tell you that well over 60% of those posting admit they vote for Bez as they love him. I've entered on or two threads arguing with people but all they say is, it's an ENTERTAINMENT show and they will vote for who they like.  So watch out for more of the same next week!!