I think Katerina Witt is brilliant on the panel, much better than Emma Bunton. She knows her stuff thats for sure and she has a great sense of humour-very witty lady.http://images.digitalspy.co.uk/forum...es/biggrin.gif
new judge
Yes, I remember watching her in the Olympic and World competitions. If anything, she is even more attractive now, with a charming manner and that slight German accent. This is my favourite judging panel ever!
She's a huge improvement on Emma. Didn't Emma give someone extra marks because her baby was kicking so it must have been enjoying the routine
Katarina is enchanting. She is a proper champion skater who broke new ground in her day and competed at the highest level. She knows what she's talking about. Yet there is no sign of any ego. She is constructive yet complimentary to the contestants. She's also really beautiful. A real class act. Well done DOI for getting her.
She has an awesome CV:
"Katarina Witt dominated the figure skating world for over a decade, winning a legion of medals and becoming one of the most successful figure skaters of all time. She won Olympic gold in both the 1984 Sarajevo and 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Katarina retains a record of four European Champion, six World Champion and eight National titles.
After retiring from competitive skating she starrred in, created and produced her own succesful skating shows, such as Divas on Ice, Katarina & Friends, Summernight on Ice as well as the German version of Dancing On Ice, which she co-produced and hosted.
She also made the leap into acting - bagging an Emmy for her title role in the 1990 film Carmen on Ice. She has acted alongside Robert DeNiro in the movie Ronin and gave her stage debut in the role of Amour in the Hugo von Hoffmannsthal play, Everyman.
Katarina has worked as a figure skating expert on the World Championships and Olympic Games for American and German TV since 1991. She's also written her biography, given tips and motivation for a healthy lifestyle in a fitness book and packed her years of experience as a young athlete into a book combining fiction and reality, based on her own life story."
And I am very taken with Louie Spence, who I had never heard of before this. He is a huge improvement on that awful crude Australian, and everything he says makes me laugh.
"Katarina Witt dominated the figure skating world for over a decade, winning a legion of medals and becoming one of the most successful figure skaters of all time. She won Olympic gold in both the 1984 Sarajevo and 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Katarina retains a record of four European Champion, six World Champion and eight National titles.
After retiring from competitive skating she starrred in, created and produced her own succesful skating shows, such as Divas on Ice, Katarina & Friends, Summernight on Ice as well as the German version of Dancing On Ice, which she co-produced and hosted.
She also made the leap into acting - bagging an Emmy for her title role in the 1990 film Carmen on Ice. She has acted alongside Robert DeNiro in the movie Ronin and gave her stage debut in the role of Amour in the Hugo von Hoffmannsthal play, Everyman.
Katarina has worked as a figure skating expert on the World Championships and Olympic Games for American and German TV since 1991. She's also written her biography, given tips and motivation for a healthy lifestyle in a fitness book and packed her years of experience as a young athlete into a book combining fiction and reality, based on her own life story."
And I am very taken with Louie Spence, who I had never heard of before this. He is a huge improvement on that awful crude Australian, and everything he says makes me laugh.
I enjoyed reading info on Katerina Witt- thanx for the comments.Im not sure about Louie Spence being a judge yet,time will tell,he got on my nerves when he was on the panel of cirque de celebrity.
I agree that this is the best judging panel ever. No over-emotional Karen, no chip-on-his shoulder Nicky, no I-believe-my-own-hype panto-villain Jason, nor any random singers or actresses. Instead we have three people who are expert in their own fields passing intelligent, constructive comment.
I bet the new panel was seen as a bit of a gamble - possibly not 'showbiz' enough - but for me it's a resounding success.
I bet the new panel was seen as a bit of a gamble - possibly not 'showbiz' enough - but for me it's a resounding success.
Oh yeah! Nicky Slater had a huge chip,he never got over Chris Dean taking over from him and reaching the heights he did,and always praised Jayne more for her skating skills.When Jayne and Chris retired, Karen thought it was their time to shine and probably would of reached bronze or even silver in the championships but Nicky decided to finish the partnership and went to find God.
Definitely a great panel; all three are actually qualified to pass judgement!
I hope Strictly producers take note when deciding on who will replace Alesha......
I hope Strictly producers take note when deciding on who will replace Alesha......
Why did producers on doi think Emma Bunton would be a good judge anyway? what was that based on, jumping around and posing with the spice girls ,coming 3rd in Strictly and even admitted herself she wasn't a trained dancer.
Originally Posted by Isleepinthebuff:
“In fairness Stevie Wonder would have been a better judge then Emma Bunton”
“In fairness Stevie Wonder would have been a better judge then Emma Bunton”
Originally Posted by bagbag1010:
“Why did producers on doi think Emma Bunton would be a good judge anyway? what was that based on, jumping around and posing with the spice girls ,coming 3rd in Strictly and even admitted herself she wasn't a trained dancer.”
“Why did producers on doi think Emma Bunton would be a good judge anyway? what was that based on, jumping around and posing with the spice girls ,coming 3rd in Strictly and even admitted herself she wasn't a trained dancer.”
They basically went with her cos she's a 'name'.
It's actually insulting the viewers intelligence though & the public can see through this. I am sure those who did not know of Katarina before are far more impressed wth her critique as opposed to Emma's even though they knew of Emma and her career.
Originally Posted by bagbag1010:
“I enjoyed reading info on Katerina Witt- thanx for the comments.Im not sure about Louie Spence being a judge yet,time will tell,he got on my nerves when he was on the panel of cirque de celebrity.”
“I enjoyed reading info on Katerina Witt- thanx for the comments.Im not sure about Louie Spence being a judge yet,time will tell,he got on my nerves when he was on the panel of cirque de celebrity.”
I enjoyed reading the info too and have to say i am liking Loui as a judge on here ( he usually gets on my nerves, way too OTT for me ) But he seems to be constructive and encouraging which is more than can be said for Jason
Yeah! Louie Spence is growing on me, I thought he was very funny with reference to "get down on your knees" comment I'M FREE....
This panel, IMHO, has been the best yet. Two knowledgeable, eloquent and fair judges with a wealth of skating experience...and what a revelation Louie has been! He has the odd overexcited moment but is very constructive, judges on the performance and the dance technicalities, and doesn't feel the need to be gratuitously nasty. It's a great panel! 
She's great. She knows her stuff, is charming, fair, honest and seems to have a sense of humour what more could we want in a judge? Oh and she's pretty easy on the eyes too.
I agree with all the comments about Katerina. I remember her well from her skating days, she was amazing to watch. She is attractive, articulate and gives the right constructive criticism.
Yet........................... something is missing.... the magic is gone from the panel, it really is.
You can bring on the best of people but it does not mean to say it will produce that chemistry that lights up a tv screen.
Louis too may bring a whole new dimension to the show, but I can't listen to his voice for longer than one minute and I never thought I would say it.................but yes.......... I miss Jason, I really do, and would prefer it if he was back with Karen on the panel. She may well be the coach as she always was, but her on screen role has been reduced to just sitting there dressed up barely uttering a word. Ridiculous.
Yet........................... something is missing.... the magic is gone from the panel, it really is.
You can bring on the best of people but it does not mean to say it will produce that chemistry that lights up a tv screen.
Louis too may bring a whole new dimension to the show, but I can't listen to his voice for longer than one minute and I never thought I would say it.................but yes.......... I miss Jason, I really do, and would prefer it if he was back with Karen on the panel. She may well be the coach as she always was, but her on screen role has been reduced to just sitting there dressed up barely uttering a word. Ridiculous.
I'm thinking maybe five back on the panel would please most people, lets say Karen Louie Jason Katarina and Robin.But I am enjoying the new panel,theyr'e having more fun!
I totally agree when I heard Mr Spence was doing the show my mum and I both thought this is a terrible choice as he is extremely annoying. However, I think he has been great for the show and isn't falling into the panto baddie role Jason was playing. I love Katerina and I think she is bringing something fresh to the panel.
Bunton was the fashion person to say how good/or bad someone's outfit looked and that was it.
Bunton was the fashion person to say how good/or bad someone's outfit looked and that was it.
Shes brill and knows her stuff. its louis i wouldnt be mad on, i think they perfect panel would have being
karen/robin/katerina
chris/robin/jane
karen/robin/katerina
chris/robin/jane
