To be honest the press I read still very much mentions Ray, Suz and Kyran (particulary Ray as they always focus on the previous years champion and of course due to him being alright at it ) as being the bench marks and they sometimes say Gaynor as she won the first series. For the girls they are very much still talking about who is going to be the next Suzanne Shaw or for journos with good memories (too rare) they also mention Clare Buckfield...
As you said we can't bank on anyone saying yes to it but I'd say for previous years they'll go through champions first to be honest, at least for asking them, before they get to runners up like Clare (please let her do it as she wasnt on that last one and they're lacking girls) and Chris (who id also like to see) as this would seem fair and be smart. They still give the main slots at the end of each show to the champ of each series, which is nice and shows they (rightly) think highly of them.
Unfortunatley the only way I can see Chris (really good skater as he is) getting in the tour is if one of the lads that comes top five cant do it or the tour promoters think that Kyran has done 3 tours and that's enough (possibility) cos we have loads of good guys this year, unlike last year. So i'd say the hierarchy of choice starts with good people this year (top 5 or 6), the former champs, then other really popular people (should be chris and clare!).
Because of last year i'd like to see them give Suzanne a proper go at it again with Matt. But then we just dont know as like you said, this is a two way street, she may not want to do it, has other plans or can't. She started talking alot during white christmas (and even before it) about how much she wants to have another child and how she wants it to be this year, preferably the sooner the better. So we just dont know, they might all have other plans! lol. Ray, Chris and Suzanne might have work or Suz might be hearing pitter patters, we just dont know... I think if he was asked Kyran would defo though he's an ice skater for a living these days! I'd imagine Clare would as well as she said how much saying no last year hurt her. Not sure about the other 3 though, they might or mightnt, Chris is auditioning for stuff, Ray must be as well and Suz turned down chicago for the tour last year and if she isnt adding to her family i doubt she would again...

But fingers crossed for Ray, Chris, Suzanne, Clare and Kyran (although he does have the ice shows as someone said, but I'd still love him there)... Would be an awesome tour if they were all on it with the top five from the show (10 wouldnt be too many surely).

That would be great but if Andrei isn't there and if Suzanne isn't there it would be very interesting to see Clare and Matt. They seem to know each other well on twitter and she is similar in build to Suzanne and Bonnie. Don't know if they have skated together but it would be interesting to see how well they could do.

I know you're only speculating but I don't think that's in anyway likely. I like them both very very much and they did a routine together at an ice party once just for a weekend but I don't think it would be a goer or why it would be particularly interesting. If andrei isn't there Pav will partner Clare, as he has done before. They know each other and although it wasn't as special as Clare and Andrei or the magic of Suz and Matt after a quite a bit of training, over a month I think, they did well enough together and seem to suit each other and seem good friends and with more training for the tour I'm sure they'd get better. She refers to Pav really affectionately and seems close if not closer to him than to matt. So to get her to adapt to someone else and have to start all over with someone who she may or may not work with or have on ice chemistry with would be unnecessary as she has a good foundation to build from with Pav and he also needs a partner.
If Pav wasn't available next in line would probably be luk cos if him and alex do the tour he'll also need a partner (in fact I'd say they both will unless she gets kyran). Or maybe Stu as I don't think he'll last much longer with Sharon and he didn't get an opportunity to do the last tour and from what I remember would have liked to. God we seem to have lots of spare male pros this year. Fred I'd imagine will also be available soon enough and I'd imagine Mel will def be doing the tour so Fred needs a partner! Lol
Between Suz and maybe even Heather, Matt doesn't seem to be a problem... Though I know you were only spectulating etc.

That raises an interesting question actually, if Emily doesn't do the tour (high probability and I had expected her to be quite good) who's Fred gonna be with? I'd hate to see the same thing happen as to Andrei last year, cos with one partner or another, Mel will tour...

I hope Emily doesn't do the tour - she really annoys me.

I think Clare and Matt have skated together so that is a possibility.

Also on a note - Kyran is doing Holiday on Ice shortly, I'm not sure for how long or whether he'll tour with it or wether DOI asked him already and it works out that he can do the DOI tour, but I'd fully expect him to be with Alex and not Mel if he did.

Susie is another one without a partner this year so maybe Ray and Susie.

So at the moment there are a few of the regular pro's without partners.

Also I heard via one of the pros that a certain little blonde pro (who's done all series but this one) might be back for the tour

That's happened before Mel skated with Kyran on the first tour Fred only did their pro routine and the group dance. But on that tour Matt skated with two partners (Bonnie and Lisa) and said he would never do it again, so even if its not Emily Fred may well have a partner.

God No. I thought we had seen the last of her.

You make it sound like you detest her

But yey if its true!

If Andrei isn't available Clare would go with Pav or even Luk not Matt, people she has more experience with. She has built up a good foundation with Pav so don't think Matt would enter the equation there, it wouldn't be at all necessary.
I think the issue of an overlap was addressed to Kyran somewhere and I don't think it does. I also fully expect him to be with Alex if he does.
As much as I like Kristina I'm not sure if they'd bring her back as we aren't short of female pros. Matt mentioned it some time ago so we'll just have to see. it'd probs just be for a pro routine and if Molly tours Matt already has a partner. I think Ray would be more likely to have Molly (presuming Maria is with Gary) and Chris would skate with Susie.

Yeh but Matt has said his pro partner this year is Molly so if she's gone back to the US who's he with now then?

PS - I liked Kristina she's an absolute doll

I think people would like to see Clare skating with Andrei (I know I would), but she's skated with both Pav and Lukasz so there are a variety of options there.

Oh god ya, I'm only speaking about if Andrei isn't there, I'm just pointing out that it'd take alot of people not there for a Clare and Matt situation to arise, she has done a considerable amount of training with Pav so he'd be first in line, followed by Luk.
Molly is only going home for a break to see hubby etc. she'll be back for the end of the series.
Ps I also like Kristina.

Totally agree, I know last year he & Frankie had to do their own choreography as they couldn't get to London to see Jayne & Chris D due to Chris's filming commitments. He is very popular though & puts bums on seats!!

I agree, the whole time he was on the show and both tours he was working full time at Hollyoaks and was still able to perform to an amazing standard! I would love to see what he could do if he had the time to commit to it 100%! Hopefully we'll get to see soon, as I already said on this thread Chris is very popular and I hope he does the tour! If I'm honest I can't see them not asking him considering how many Bolero's he's been voted to skate! That show's he's popular with the croud and that's what they want!

I don't think we would get a Claire and Matt partnership though, even though I'm sure they could be great together if given the opportunity, because even if Heather doesn't do the tour surely Suzanne would skate with Matt? They have already established a good partnership so it would make much more sense, plus the audience is familiar with them as a couple. That's if she does the tour of course and I'm sure she will be asked. Especially with what seems like a lack of girls this year, that being said I'm sure she would be asked regardless! I can't wait to find out the line up!! When I first saw this thread I thought there might be a few ideas inside but no not yet! I wonder when they will announce it?

We got it quite early last year in comparision to the year before but i'd say they'll wait longer this year cos they messed up with Donal.

The dream team with regards to past contestants taking part would be Suzanne/Matt Claire/Andrei and Chris with whoever (he may not get Frankie this year) ...I could forego Kyran's presence to be honest and in any event, if Mikey Graham does as well as hoped, it may well be him touring with Mel. Kyran would have to skate with someone else if he wants to take part.

As long as Heather Mills has zippo to do with it, I will be happy.

She'd have to come in the top 5 to tour, i can't see her doing that, even if you discount popularity and base it purely on skating she's 7th.

Here's hoping you are right !

He isn't doing a full tour - he is just performing in Liverpool this week & a week in Birmingham next Month. So he would be available if asked.

Agreed, I think they won't announce the line up until late Feb/Early March. Although they might announce the ones from previous series a little earlier.

All this speculation is fun though.

Molly said they were going to announce it in early March - that is what she thought anyway,

On a side note about Heather not doing it as she'd had to come at least 5th.

Last year Todd came 9th, Melinda came 7th and Roxanne came 6th and they were all on the tour. So its completely possible that if she's asked and if she wants to Heather might do the tour.

Thats because they asked them too early they thought melinda in particular would come higher. They predicted Roxy over Coleen as well, though Roxy would have got in anyway cos coleen said she wouldn't do it so they'd have to have gone down to 6th. they messed up not asking Donal, Melinda effectively took Donals slot, they probs thought she'd come about 5th and he'd come about 7th. They predicted the wrong top 5! That's the only reason it went down so far.
Todd got in because of the YouTube thing (I also think given that they thought he might come higher) and because they needed extra person from that current year (cos before that it was five new and four from previous) cos Clare said she couldn't do it, and they ignored Donal as they didn't think he'd do very well. So they were lacking in past skater so took 6, not the case this year seemingly, so I don't know five maybe will do it from this series and four from others. although given the talent this year they may take 6 again.
So that's why 6th, 7th and Todd got in.
Only way Heather will get in is if other people (the predicted top 5) can't tour and it goes down the line, or they predict the wrong top five or six like last year (though 6th would have got in as Coleen didn't want it).
I can't see Heather getting a slot over Danny, Keiron, Gary, Hayley, Daniella or Mikey unless they refuse it, cos all bar one of them are gonna be the top 5, even if you just judge on skating ability. One if these mightn't even get in if they want to take 4 previous stars on tour. They also appear to have Ray, Suzanne, Kyran, Chris and Clare competing for 3, max 4 slots.
I personally can't see Heather touring...
It's too competitive this year touring and also I can't see people turning down good work...

Think Suzanne is out of running, rumour has it she's just been offered a big part in Emmerdale!!

grrr no scotland again