I think Michael lacked a little bit of range with his marks, slightly too little differentiation between the good and the rubbish, BUT, his comments were excellent, especially to Sharron, constructive and designed to help her make the most of what she has and can't changed, i.e. her physique. Jason comments too much on personal physical characteristics which can't be changed rather than on how they use what they've got.

Not at all. It suits him.

I liked Michael too, but then I expected to like him because I'm already a big fan. I think he made encouraging and constructive comments. He's an intelligent and articulate guy - witty too when given the chance. And he can't help his hairdo, dodgy or not - as all his fans know, his hair is naturally very, very curly!

He once had in straightened and gelled a bit when he was presenting This Morning, but the consensus was that he should revert to his natural curly haired look - which he had when I first saw him 24 years ago....

I preferred the straighter look but I was in minority.

Enjoyed him tonight, I agree he could replace either Jason or Emma.

He's great, he'd make a wonderful Jason replacement (preferably). I thought he did brilliantly tonight, what a lovely lovely man.

Is he just here for this week, or for the duration of Robin's stint at the Winter Olympics?

Spot on.

I think they said if he was good this week, he'll be back next week. So, fingers crossed...

I read it as Michael Balls Juggling. I like him as a judge so far, he should be there instead of Emma. He shouldn't replace Robin full time though.

on no I agree no one should replace robin however he is a pleasant stand in

and toes. I think he's been great.

it may suit him, but there is no denying that it's a shocking hairdoo!

Though he was good & more sensible than Emma in his marks. Hope he's back next week.

He was good. Please swap him for Jason or Emma next year...mind you, it seems that it's de rigeur to have a resident 'Mr/Mrs Nasty' on every TV judging panel these days. That's okay, so long as their comments are based on performance and not on personal characteristics that cannot be changed, as mandyxxxx said.

The only time I've come across Michael before as a celebrity judge was on the second series of 'Soapstar Superstar' (featuring...err...Hayley Tamaddon - small world isn't it )

Then, as now, absolutely first class, knows the strengths and weaknesses of his own technical knowledge, gives his opinion straight but is always 100% constructive and comes over as a thoroughly decent chap.

If DOI limps on into another series he'd be perfect to fill that troublesome fifth judge spot - far better than Natalia whose English was incomprehensible, Ruthie whose opinions were incomprehensible and Emma whose inclusion in the first place was incomprehensible...

i thought he was quite good but he didnt really add much tbh.

As for emma, i quite liked her to begin with but now i dislike her abit because she is trying to be this ice queen but she is just coming across as a sour bitch. I would value her judging if she had at least skated abit before or actually had some experiance at skating.

i dont think her being as judge has done her any good. i thought she was supposed to be there to sympathise with the contestants because "she knows what its like to be out on a stage" saying to someone the competition will start when you leave is hardly sympathetic, and it does make me laugh when she tries to talk about the technical skating terms :P

class

Good point!

BTW, I read it as 'Michael - balls at judging' but he was fine.

Michael was an example of some-one knows how to give a professional "artistic" opinion as a judge. He should give lessons to Emma Bunton and Gardiner. I personally think the programme is suffering because these two are on the programme. Emma Bunton is a washed up hasbeen and hawks herself round any reality programme that will have and who, but ITV, would employ Gardiner. Is that why he is in the UK!

Loved him. Thought he was very good. Jason was quite rude to him when Michael spoke accidentally instead of him - said something about "Don't worry you'll get your 15 minutes". He really is a nasty piece of work.

Michael Ball for Jason's job!

Meooow

I actually thought that comment was funny and I am NOT a Jason fan. In fact, I despise him. I took it as tongue in cheek but some of his other comments (especially to Gary) during the evening were personal, spiteful and vindictive. And yes, I would love for Michael Ball to replace him.

Oh FFS!! Some people really just want to see the worst in Jason all the time. It was blatently obvious that Jason was joking with Michael. They've worked together before and get on well... It's the sort of thing I'd say to a friend in jest if they talked over me in a similar situation.

I liked him, quite shocked at how good he was. Miles better than Emma.

Tell me about it, she always talks really loudly as if to over-compensate for her lack of knowledge. I mean, what really qualifies her to be a judge on ice dancing?

I always think she has a quick look over her shoulder to see what score her fellow judges are making, and then does the same, you can just see it, oh right 3:5, I'll do that as well

I thought Michael Ball was quite good, at least he's got heaps of experience in theatre/music matters, although not exactly ice dancing.