But Hayley didn't fall - not in the sense that her skating was at fault - Dan had an accident when his skate struck something on the ice and dropped her. Its not the same thing at all and they WERE marked down. Which actually I think was unfair because head judge whatsisface (sorry, name block) said he marked them down 1/2 a point each.

1) since when have we been marking down the professionals?
and
2) how can you penalise someone for being dropped?

People were comparing Mikeys wobbly trip that occurred the same week with the drop (I'm going to stop calling it a fall) but they are not the same. One was the celebs fault the other was a pure accident by the professional.

I'm not keen on Kieron but even I could see that he put in a good performance yesterday and deserved better marks that he got. That doesn't mean that someone else should be marked down though.

Agreed, Sid. She was amazing and the routine was breath-taking.

No, you're right. I thought Daniella and Gary were overmarked, so she should've been more than five points better.

Edit: I wouldn't have objected to Kieron being in Gary's place though.

But Hayley was miles better than Gary, her nearest rival. He didn't deserve 21 points for such a dull vapid routine

Do we have to have so many threads on this?

Unless they award individual scores for the pro and the celeb and combine them, they are being marked as a couple. It might seem an unfair comparison, but in full competition they would lose marks for falls, but so(presumably retrospectively) would any couple who could be shown to have left debris on the ice after their performance that might hamper later skaters.

Hayley's doing the best she can with what she's given. If the routine doesn't include lots of solo skating then she can't just shove some in to keep the viewers at home happy. Her performance is good, she looks slick during lifts, her transitions in and out of them are smooth and what solo skating she gets is confidently done which makes me think she could do more quite comfortably given the chance (unlike Bonnie Langford whom I always thought would have been on her a*se in seconds if she let go of Matt).

Hayley irritates me slightly (and I don't really know why - I guess she comes across as one of those hyper, "in your face" people that just get on my nerves a little) but she's now clearly the best skater (all round package) in the competition. Maybe fives across the board would have suited the routine better (just my opinion) but I have no real problem with her score. She was easily the best on the rink last night and by some distance. At this stage, she's starting to look almost as far in front of her competition as Ray did last year; she's improving, some of them aren't.

It was great, but at the same time being so far ahead in the scoring yet not being as good as Ray is a poisoned chalice. You can see the anti-vote building, she's becoming a "marmite" contestant and they rarely win.
If the show wants her to win they should dial it back a bit.

She'd have come out of last week better if she'd got a low score because there would have been more sympathy. Instead a lot of people supporting someone else are annoyed.

You have completely hit the nail on the head there.

I'm sure the 'show' doesn't want her to win. The show isn't bothered who wins, as long as they get the ratings.

And why should the judges 'dial it back' on marking if it's fair that they mark as they see (and that includes the actual skating judges amongst them - who should know what they're talking about!) - just because it might 'annoy' a few of the voting public?

They mark as they see fit, not for the whim of those watching at home and, quite frankly, if people at home are sitting there disliking someone because they're good and they're getting the marks as a reflection of that then I really despair of the people at home!

What happened to wanting someone who's good at something to win? We really do have it backwards in this country. If you're great at something you're built up then villified whereas if you're mediocre, then you gain support. It's a wonder anyone tries to be the best they can - why should they, when all it is likely to bring them is accusations of being the 'teachers pet' or of favouritism?

*Sigh*

Yes "it" is, which is sad.

Oh really? Why's that then?

Previous winners have hardly been utilised by ITV after they've won....

No idea, nor do I care, makes no difference to me who wins. Tour maybe. Ratings, which translates as money of course. Maybe they bet on it..lol. But the manipulations are the same as other reality shows.

And Suzanne isn't doing the tour this year because she's going in Emmerdale...


I'm just saying, but very few if any of these shows leave things to chance.

I really don`t understand it either

Another sigh here. Hayley is streets ahead of the rest of the field, she is a wonderful ice-skater and a joy to watch. She has taken to it like a duck in water and I could not say that anyone else in this competition is better than her because it would be a big fat lie.

I was away over the weekend and have only just watched the recording.

Hayley's performance last night was breathtaking - she deserved every mark. No one else came close.

Well maybe "the show" wants her to win because she's the best skater, but the way they are going it might backfire that's all.

As for why the general public vote for different people it's because it's an entertainment programme not the Olympics and people have different motivations to vote. It would make for dull viewing if everyone agreed really.

and I agree with your last paragraph but it is one thing to back a skater but another thing entirely to be nasty about another just because she is obviously by far and above the best.

Well that's one way to have the last word.

All the points I made were relevant to your posts - as can be confirmed by the fact the I responded directly to remarks as quoted; and of course I referred to the overmarking and undermarking - but I don't mind repeating myself.

imo Hayley was not overmarked - Mikey was slight undermarked.

btw I see you formed the same opinion last night - i.e. Hayley overmarked. Well I think I will steer clear of your posts from now on - what is the point of offering an opinion to a self styled 'Anyone but Hayley?'

Unfortunately I was away for the weekend so had no opportunity to respond.

Please indicate where I told you your opinions are wrong - then we can let the matter rest.

3 threads on the first page referring to Hayley's marks as being over generous.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1213355
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1216745
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1217031

Guess that's the interpretation placed on her performances who see their own favourites as being under thread.

Most posts are criticising the marking though, not Hayley, but still it makes her less likely now to benefit from vote transfer. Fact is, the marking is erratic, and people supporting those getting undermarked are bound to be irritated. Imagine if Sinitta was your favourite?! How ticked off would you be, and what are the chances you would vote for Hayley if you were to vote again?

Hayley has nothing whatsoever to do with Sinitta being eliminated What are you trying to say with that example?

I love Hayley but she was definitely over-marked (not 5 marks better than Gary Lucy!) It just seems that she can do no wrong with the judges. She could come on the ice and whistle for 2 minutes and she'd finish top. Maybe the fall last week was Dan's fault, but that doesn't matter, they should still have knocked marks off for it. Just like they do if choreography isn't great, which also isn't necessarily their fault.

Marking in skating does not reward the prettiest/elegant routine. Skaters get more marks for the content of the programme, the edges, clean lines and strength of spins/lifts, combinations and links. So you can fall more than once and still score really well even win world titles and Olympic medals.

What's getting ridiculous is the totally unjustified anti-Hayley feeling on here. Her crimes?
Smiling and looking as if she enjoys skating
Being good at skating
Getting good marks for being good at skating
Getting on well with her partner
Impressing an increasing share of the viewers with her positive attitude and amazing skating ability.