I knew I hated props week, but that skate-off demonstrates the whole reason why. I want Hayley & Dan to win the whole competition, but I thought Danny's routine was the best tonight - until the skate-off. That wretched hat!

By the way, although I was as surprised as anybody that Gary wasn't in the skate-off, he would still have been saved if up against Danny, given those mistakes.

Hayley doesn't seem like the avoiding type to be honest. She does the choreography she's asked to do and she does it well.

I became a massive Danny fan, as you know I always support the underdog. Danny did skate a lot and he was good. Keiron is also very good but he has a job, Danny does not, he is a good guy who just needs a chance, I was so sorry to hear that he did not get a place in the tour. Nice having dialogue with you

Oh ok. I'm not a skater, so I'm easily impressed.

Now if anyone wanted to introduce "Skating on crutches", I'd give it a go - couldn't wear a skate on right foot though.

True. Bit there was precious little actual skating in that routine and none of it solo.

Sure, the situation in DOI isn't exactly the same, because the celebs can't sack T&D.

But think of, for example, Suzanne's "Music" routine and also her routine that was criticised and iirc marked down for being too full of jumps. If we take out everything that's supposedly down to T&D from what's considered when marking, how is "Music" supposed to get such high marks? How are the judges supposed to show the lift-filled routine is worth less?

But Kieron having a full-time job also means that training is far harder for him than the others...

Yes, as has been said it was a bit low on content - Chris and Jayne's fault, though, not Hayley's.

LOL You should get a job with the Job Centre, bornfree...

Same with Daniella then.

I found Danny more entertaining these last two weeks tbh, he acted his routines just right I felt and I could feel his enjoyment. I like Kieron but his performances while skating are a little too ott for my taste. But thats just down to my taste. I wanted Danny to make it but I now hope Kieron makes the final as he puts effort into his performances where Gary doesn't seem to.

Yes I know, but Danny did need some public support, he did not get much all because some labelled him as being cocky. I really like Kieron and know he is very talented,but feel Danny was more so, but just did not have as much support as Kieron or Daniella. Infact the plank of wood Gary had more support.

Typed too fast, got names wrong

which worries me for next week... a Gary/Kieron SO? Kieron wins, though - but is it an all public vote?

I don't know, he did score higher on the leaderboard this week, and does seem to get a lot of positive comments once they ask the judges about the overall show. If only there wasn't that pesky issue of Gary being the one on the tour....

In your opinion.

I don't mean that in an aggressive way, but it is subjective. Yes the judges rated Kieron more highly tonight but Gary has had higher marks than him on other nights.

My opinion of the night...public got the skate off wrong - it should have been Daniella and Gary in my opinion. Sure, Daniella was pretty good - but she never skated ONCE..and just got dragged around on a chair doing nothing but 'acting'...which is what she does professionally anyway. Hayley did a great routine, skated nicely, lovely use of prop - but I admit it was my least favorite routine. Slow and 'nice' isn't her..she needs a stronger emotion to really give it out (such as love, or fiery or dancey...not 'nice')

What would you know about 'a full time job'?

What does that matter?

It's the public that votes for him each week, and I don't think they vote for him for that reason alone. As far as I remember, Todd was on the tour last year, and he had exited by this stage.

His fans vote to keep him in because they are his fans, just as people did with Coleen last year. It may sound mean, but I don't think it was Coleen's skating ability that kept her in it last year.
It may be the same with Gary.

When it comes to the actual skating, I do believe the judges and Chris when they told us week after week that Gary is the best skater among the contestants this year. Remember Chris going all whimsical and imagining a Gary skate/Hayley performance (though to be fair at this stage, Danniella may be a better fit)? That kind of positive promotion in early weeks sticks as fast as the negative - e.g. Emily being lazy, when there was absolutely no evidence of this once the series was underway.

Maybe the training team just crossed their fingers and assumed Gary would start performing at some point and, based on last night's results, it seems the public still have that hope (or they're more easily pleased than I).

What I can't get understand, is why when it has been evident from the off that, despite his skating ability, Gary is really struggling to perform, they havent illicited outside help from Method Acting trainers, hypnotists, whoever else is normally brought in on these shows, to help Gary develop some performing abilities.

Maybe Gary can cram this week and treat us to more than Coffin on Ice next sunday. *crosses fingers*

It's one thing to suggest this for a TV presenter or sportsperson but how mortified would he be if they suggested acting lessons? They have tried other stuff like the Hairspray masterclass to get him to come out of his shell & have given him character routines but it hasn't worked. As he hasn't found his inner performer now I can't see him discovering it all of a sudden.

Could you not think of a bigger cliche then?

Just because some of us are over 40 it doesn't mean we have lost all critical faculties we ever had you know!

Back to the original comment about DS not being representative....I do agree the profile on Digitalspy is not especially representative of the population as a whole. I know a lot of people who won't come near this place because they get irritated by the irrational partisan attitudes that some people have here. Most people I know who watch DoI watch it for fun and if they do vote it's for who they like best on the night. They think I am a little odd because I bother to post here, but then I always did like a good "debate"

I agree with you 100%, I hate the old chestnut of age, housewifes etc. I'm 36 and I didn't vote for Dr Hilary, or Coleen or now for Gary. In previous years I had favourites (e.g. Donal or Kyran) and I would have voted for them if they were in a dangerous position or if they were undermarked in my opinion. This year I haven't voted at all, but I'm going by what I like on the night. I don't have a "hot guy", or old housewifes favourite agenda (there is no such thing anyway).

I've got the same, but I also come on here to share my enjoyment of the show with people who actually enjoy the show (where I work not many people watch DOI or SCD).

No need to despite what the producers seem to think it is allowed to have a brain and watch DoI and Strictly

I'm like you, I tend not to vote (although I will occasionally in the final), I think it makes it easier to keep a bit of perspective when all around you are getting ever so slightly "heated" if you haven't actually spent any hard cash! Actually, in truth, it's not the loss of money that stops me voting, but it is far too tiring to get as emotionally involved as people do when they start multiple voting etc. The whole thing is much more fun when you remember it's supposed to be fun and entertaining and it's not some kind of battle to be won.

Mortification is what is inhibiting Gary, it is exactly why he needs to go to someone who can help him free his inner prat.

However, ice dance is a completely different genre to tv acting, so there is absolutely no need for anyone to be mortified anyway. And if I remember the Hairspray week correctly, didnt the judges comment on how much better his performance was that week?

More masterclasses of this ilk could only be beneficial - for all of us.

Damned, and I always put mine (my brain) in my little waterglass until the show is over. Sometimes I forget to put it in before I post on here as well.

I agree on the perspective thing, this year it has definitely helped me not to have a favourite, although I admit that I have been passionate about previous contestants as well (although never to a degree that I couldn't see the merit of others - I supported Donal, but liked Ray and Jess as well). Not having a favourite makes it easier to watch though, although I was mightely disappointed when Danny and Kieron were in the skate off after their respective routines. However, I think it's a compliment to this year's contestants that I really don't want any of them to go.