the Couples practise their routines on DOI before the main show i thought it was meant to be a surprise for them

Robin Cousins said he was Amazed to watch one of the couples performace before the show

I know some of the other reailty shows don't let some of the judges into rehershals so how come they are on DOI

i dont know about robin,emma,jason or nicky but karen helps train them so she sees all routines so none of them are a surprise to her

I think it is a bit unfair TBH.

It's so they can discuss what marks they will likely be awarding in the main programme. Although Nicky obviously doesn't take part in this discussion. It's also so that they can give a better critique and not look like a tit but they often fail in this department.

Maybe to make them familiar with the routines so if a performer messes up or drops something out they will know and can take it into account.

Karen helps train all of them other than Hayley and Kieron. She doesn't train them.

Which is why she's often biased.

It's been mentioned before that after they've watched the rehearsals Robin gives the other judges guidelines on how high and low they can score each contestant. They don't always stick to them though! You can tell when they've gone outside the margines because Robin always glares at them.

Are you referring to Nicky?

Yeah, I remember last year when Nicky said to Ray (I think it was him) that he would have given him a 5.5 but couldn't because of Robin's directive that they could only give a maximum of 5.0 which is what Nicky gave him. Of course, Nicky was abruptly interrupted by a pissed off Holly and Jason and couldn't elaborate any further.

I think on most of these shows they see the rehearsal. On Fame Academy they even said it was impossible to hear the singing with an audience in. On X factor I think the same has been said. ON SCD the judges (or some of them) have seen the training filming and I think the rehearsal. On DOI they were seen watching a rehearsal on the Friday show and Nicky was taking notes. He could only be commenting on T and D's choregraphy or issues he saw presumably with a view not to mention them if they vanished on the night. Its been suggested that Robin sets a mark limit and possibly tariff for each act - which you would need to get the marks to reflect difficulty and to make sense week on week

It's always customary for judges to watch the competitors in training in ice dancing in official competitions such as Olympics, World Championships and Euros, so they are probably carrying that on in DO1.

It is amazing to think that some people think a live TV show like DOI doesn't have at least one full rehearsal - talent show or otherwise.

Yeah, I don't think the producers could risk live performances without intense practicing.