Apoligies if I am hearing things or there's already a thread but on the Friday show they said something about a guest judge who is it and who's going away?

I would assume Nicky or Robin are going as they do other things.

So who's the guest judge?

Robin is due to commentate on the Winter Olympics I think - so could be for that... however I'm surprised it can't be worked around the DOI schedule

So you expect Robin to fly back from Vancouver just to judge on DOI?? Not what you call practicle is it!!

As long as guset judge isnt Ruthie

I was going to post a thread on this.!

I didn't know they were in Vancouver

Len and Bruno fly to the US each week when SCD is on to judge both US/ UK shows - if they can do it then I'm sure the Cousins can

wasnt there roumers victoria beckham was going to do it ? , other than that i dont really know

Dear God I hope not!

If Robin is away for that week (which hasn't been confirmed) then surely they should fill that spot with someone who knows something about skating. He is head judge after all!

Oh yes, that makes sense. Replace an Olympic figure skating champion with a talentless twiglet - can totally see the logic.

Sorry, shouldn't have said that. I merely state my hope that whoever is called in to replace Robin has a similar background of expertise.

Can't see why Jayne or Chris can't cover for a week. Ok, so they may score slightly higher than they should because they know them, but that's no different to what Karen does already.

If they prefer to just continue being mentors, then I wouldn't mind seeing Kyran take over, considering he's continued his ice skating life after the competition IIRC, and set up his own ice party show. Karen or Nicky to become head judge in Robin's absence (probably Karen as she's at the end and her marking isn't quite so inconsistent as Nicky's).

But in this show head judge counts for sod all...

With 5 judges it doesn't matter. With 4 (like on SCD) then a head judge is necessary.

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic schedule:

Sun, 14 Feb - Pairs - Short Programme
Mon, 15 Feb - Pairs - Free Skating
Tue, 16 Feb - Men - Short Programme
Thu, 18 Feb - Men - Free Skating
Fri, 19 Feb - Ice Dancing - Compulsory Dance
Sun, 21 Feb - Ice Dancing - Original Dance
Mon, 22 Feb - Ice Dancing - Free Dance
Tue, 23 Feb - Ladies - Short Programme
Thu, 25 Feb - Ladies - Free Skating
Sat, 27 Feb - Exhibition Gala

If Robin were to do DOI on Sundays, he wouldn't be able to commentate on the Olympic skating events on those same days and, even if he flies to Vancouver on Sunday nights after DOI, it's not guaranteed he'd there in time for the Monday events either.

And, in addition to Robin commentating for the BBC on the winter olympics, Nicky frequently commentates on skating competitions for ESPN. I don't know if he's commentating for ESPN for these Olympics but it's entirely possible guest judges will be needed to cover for both Robin and Nicky. I'd imagine Karen Barber's husband, Stephen Pickavance, who's a former British Champion Men's skater and is now a skating coach might possibly be drafted in. He's frequently been a judge on the DOI tour, we often see him in VTs helping with coaching the celebs on DOI and I believe he was lined up to stand in for Nicky when Nicky's son was born on a DOI day and they weren't sure if he'd make it to that show.

Hopefully we do get Stephen and not some moronic idiot that knows sod all about skating.

Thanks memmh for that Olympic Schedule!

I'm not sure I entirely know the difference between free dance, compulsory dance and original dance, but I will learn!

I agree, If they are taking Robins place it should at least be someone with his technical knowledge and experience

I'm not 100% certain myself but I THINK the CDs are proscribed steps and music, the OD has a theme (such as a rhumba, or blues or Paso Doble) and the competitors have a certain amount of freedom within that theme. The FD has the most freedom of all - there are some rules, or course, and there's also a few required elements but, apart from that, the competitors can pretty much do as they like with the FD.

This could be fabulous for the show; let's get rid of that pesky Robin, as he obviously knows very little about skating and bring in Keith Harris and Orville, to join Emma and Jason. Actually Keith and Orville count as two, so Nicky can go.

Then all we need is to get rid of Karen, replace her with Katie Price, and we will have a really, really, really knowledgable panel.

Robin isn't being fired from DOI. He's going to be commentating on the ice skating at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and isn't going to be able to do that and DOI at the same time, because there's Olympic skating events on the same days as DOI. We don't know yet who's going to cover for Robin while he's commentating at the Olympics but, at this point, there's no reason to assume it won't be someone with skating knowledge.

That's pretty much the jist of it!

CD is when all the couples perform the same standardized steps and holds to music of a specified tempo.

For the OD the ISU designates a rhythm that all dancers must perform to, but unlike the compulsory dances, the competitors choose their own music (within a specified tempo range) and choreography. Closed partnering positions and close skating is also important for the original dance.

With the FD skaters are free to choose their own rhythms, programme themes and music. They must include certain elements, including step sequences, lifts, dance spins and twizzles. There are multiple music cuts and tempos that help bring variety to the routine and the hand holds and positions are much more open.

Tadaaaa! I enjoy watching them all. The CD & OD it's interesting to see who puts what interpretation on the elements and who really stands out within the rules. The FD is great fun!

I know, I was joking

Sorry. I've got to the stage where I sometimes have problems recognising on DS who's being sarcastic and who's having a strop

I never have strops, HOW VERY DARE YOU!

I know, what was I thinking?! Colour me ashamed!

Thanks memmh and Rachel29 for the technical explanations of CD, OD and FD. I can watch with an educated eye now! (Although I retain the right to base my choice of favourites on the outrageousness of their costumes!) (FD, right?!)