Hi all,

Would anyone be so kind as to tell me how the semi-final skate offs have gone in all the other series?

Thanks very much, Tiddleboo x

If you mean who was against who, I think this was it;
Series one:
Bonnie Langford & Matt v David Seaman & Pam = David eliminated
Series two:
Duncan James & Maria v Emily Symons & Dan = Emily eliminated
Series three:
Gareth Gates & Maria v Zaraah Abrahams & Fred = Gareth eliminated
Series four:
Donal McIntyre & Florentine v Coleen Nolan & Stuart = Coleen eliminated

In all but last year with Donal the celeb that got through the skateoff in the semi final has come 3rd in the final; Bonnie, Duncan and Zaraah.

Usually the semi final skate-off eliminates a popular skater against someone much less popular.

In terms of ability I think who went in the semis has been right to date. The only question mark I'd have had from previous performances was Gareth going against Zaraah, but she was better than him that night, so I thought it was fair. I think all the others deserved to go over who they were up against as well.

In terms of popularity it's interesting because for everyone that went in the semis it was their first skate off (David, Emily, Gareth and Coleen hadn't been in one up to that point), whereas everyone who survived had already been in at least one skate off (Bonnie, Duncan and Donal had been in one before the semis and Zaraah had been in three). But to be fair I think a few of those who have come fourth have to very lucky to have stayed that long and I think the public thought they'd gotten far enough so stopped voting. As I said in terms of ability I think they made the right call each time.

Bonnie was favourite to win the series for a long time. Had Gaynor gone favourite by the semis or was it a shock that Bonnie didn't get straight through?

In series 2, was it Claire and Kyron favourite, or Claire and Duncan?

Series 3 I seem to recall Gareths routine wasn't as strong as usual, think thats why Zaraah beat him in the skate off.

Last year, the only (delightful) surprise was Donal coming second.

So, judging by the norm, Hayley will get through straight. There isn't a clear second this year though is there? The other 3 have all been in a few skate offs each. Just down to the routines on the night, whether they are special enough to get them through.

Thanks all for replying

I have no idea as regards favourite for series one, I can't remember odds back that far. By the semis Kyran was favourite to win series two.
I'd say Hayley will come top of the leaderboard so will probably go through, though her public support hasnt been shown up to this point but that's because it hasnt needed to be. She'd have gotten through almost every week just on leaderboard position. Gary seems to have strong public support so we'll just have to see. It will be close between him, Keiron and Danniella, they'll need to be as high as possible on the leaderboard. Also none of those 3 are consistent, Danniella could come top or bottom, Gary might come 2nd or bottom,likewise with Keiron and that'll make a big big difference.

I hope Maria can make it three times going in the semi on Sunday

She's only went out in the semi's once before with Gareth but was in the semi skate off with Duncan.

I hope Gary goes out.

Also whoever is bottom of the leaderboard in the semi's has been eliminated every year in the skate off- David, Emily, Gareth and the awful Coleen.

Bonnie was the Judges favourite from week 1 of series 1.

However - she was far from popular with the viewers as all the forums (not just this one) were up in arms about her lack of actual skating in all her routines. The judges pulled her up about it week after week (but still gave her high marks), but T&D still gave her choreography that focused on the lifts and tricks.

She was dumped in the skate off every week once her top of the board postion couldn't protect her and before the final had been in at least 2 (against Kelly Holmes in prop week where Kelly outskated her completely but lacked the performance skills, and David Seaman in the semi where he did the headbanger with Pam (and remains the only male celeb to have done so!)).

Her 3rd place in the final surprised no-one, particularly because in her flying routine her skates were on the ice for one second at the beginning and another at the end - and for someone who is famous for playing Peter Pan in Panto there was no difficulty for her!

That said - she has earned my respect since for keeping up her skating - and she is now actually very good - and I think is one of the few who could give Ray a run for his money in terms of skating AND performance skill.

I agree she has improved her skating a lot since the show. She's a great performer but I think quite a few other people are stronger in terms of performance and skating combined so I think she'd be quite down the pecking order in terms of giving Ray a run to be honest (though I know you werent saying Bonnie was the only one).

But back to point I think whoever comes bottom of the leaderboard will go and it could be any out of Gary, Danniella and Keiron. It'll be close. It's going to depend on the night, generally I can predict the leaderboard for the semis but other than Hayley top I can't. The other 3 have been all over the leaderboard previous weeks...

I know she struggled on the ice early in the series (remember the helmet) - but had T&D shown a little faith I'm sure she could have answered her critics with an actual skating performance.

Series 1 was very much a learning curve for everyone - Chris and Jayne included - which probably explains Gaynors success.


I've only seen her skate once since DOI (she fell during a Christmas special) but her skating had shown immense improvement and reports since then suggest that she is, as you say, very good.

Here is Bonnie with a stunning performance in the 2007 tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVMcSbuM2Ns

Look at the speed she is going!!

Trust me - compared to when she was on the show this is a fabulous display of skating (admittedly still lift and trick heavy - but with lots of skating in there too!)

She looked better on the ice in that than ever in the show but besides gaining a bit of speed she didn't do any 3 turns or use her edges still. But it looked good and a nice back drag.

I still think on the tours Bonnie relied more on performance & dancing than her skating. Yes her skating improved but she started from a very low base.

For me she has never been the complete package that the likes of Suzanne & Clare are.

I like her but surely the only bit of solo skating here is on toe picks? Boy, has Hayley been slated on here for doing that!

I think Hayley is at the same standard that Bonnie was on tour now. Her perfomance/dancing overshadows her skating, although she is cetainly not a 'bad' skater. I am sure hayley can improve futher but for me she isn't yet as good as Suzanne or Clare.

Somebody posted a video of Claire from Kyran's Ice Party last year where she did a gorgeous solos skate at the beginning of her routine. That remains the best bit of actual skating I've seen from a female DOI celebrity.

Enjoyed Bonnie's routine there but I can't say that she actually did a lot of skating.

Think that was probably me. That video of her skating with Luk was from the Bristol Ice Party Christmas 2008. I was lucky enough to be there live and you're right it was a beatiful performance. If they produce a routine anything like that on tour they will surely get 6's.

This one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZraB_kzgSa8&NR=1 has Bonnie dancing with Pavel and to my (admittedly untutored) eye she seems to be doing more skating, and out of hold too, including a solo spin. Does anyone know which is the more recent of the two performances?

Also, what is a 3-turn please? (The simplified-English version please, I don't know any of the technical terms!)

A 3 turn is a basic skating turn - there are 8 varieties but the simplest is a forward outside 3 turn which means the skater skates forward on an outside edge (being on an edge is what makes the skater travel on a curve) and then rocks the weight towards the toe which allows them to turn the skate and themselves so they are on a back inside edge, travelling backwards and staying on the same curve.

The 8 varieties are the left and right foot versions of a forward outside to back inside edge turn, forwards inside to back outside edge, back inside to forward outside and back outside to forward inside.

The name comes from the tracing that the edges leave on the ice which looks a bit like a 3.

I think only Ray has done backwards to forwards ones on DOI and I may be wrong on that!

The performance with Pavel is the later one - Matt had to move on to his more recent partner.

He did one tour where he partnered both Lisa Scott Lee and Bonnie - but said that he wouldn't do it again - ever since it has bee one celeb skating wit one pro....

If you look on youtube - you can find her original Hot Honey Rag routine from the series (week 2)there too! For a week 2 performance it wasn't bad - but very light on the skating (as picked up by the judges) and heavy on the lifts and tricks. She definitely has her feet on the ice a lot more on the tour - and is moving a lot faster and not as assisted by Matt.