Over on the Strictly forum, for every week of the competition there's a thread asking forumites to give their 5 thoughts on that week's performances. Think it might be quite popular here too, so here's mine:

1. Matt L was a bit cockier than I thought, but you can't deny that that was a good routine.
2. On first glance, Samia is the Jennifer Ellison of this series
3. Keith did much better than I expected, think he was a bit undermarked.
4. It's a shame Pamela went out but I thought it was the right decision based on the skate-off alone.
5. Shayne was a bit disappointing, but it came across as though he hadn't put much effort and time into it.

I think Samia has potential to be better than Jen was, but it could go either way really - too soon to call it. Glad she survived though! Otherwise, think you're right on the money.

I meant that Samia was like Jen (and Heidi Range for that matter) in that her routine was basically her being lifted, with no solo skating I do think she can get better but almost everyone else tonight did some solo skating, so I hope she does some in her next routine.

1. I can't warm to Keith and hope he goes Week 3.
2. I love Ashley as a judge, she surprised me, very good.
3. Beth had my favorite routine but she needs to put in more performance, great skate though.
4. I loved Pamela and I'm sad she's gone, don't like the Save Me Skate.
5. Matt is gorgeous, isn't he?

1. Surprisingly, my joint favourite with Beth was QUEEF TWEGWIN (thanks, Christine) and was a tad undermarked!
2. The save-me-skate is a bit pointless.
3. I thought Shayne was on the same level as Samia and Pamela.
4. A lot of modern music choices tonight - 5/6 of which were released in the 2010s!
5. Next week's sleb line-up doesn't really excite me.

1. Show feels refreshed and much better than last years blip
2. Brilliant standard fora week 1 show, no awful skaters
3. Liked the introductions, less drawn out
4. Christine is much more relaxed and settled this year
5. Save me skates reinforced why I think TnD should and do choreograph

1. The opening number was fantastic - especially set to Spectrum by Florence and the Machine
2. Matt L was great and I thought he was going to bug me - but fair play to him.
3. Don't get Ashley - sorry Ashley fans - but its Emma Bunton part 2 - except from a less famous girl group.
4. Pammy going is a shocker.
5. Philip Schofield is seriously underrated as a presenter - he has a wicked sense of humour - imagine the fun you'd have down the pub with him.

1. Unless Ashley suddenly discovers an expert knowledge of Ice Dancing, she can't "settle" into her role. She'll be as redundant in week 10 as she is now.

2. The only reason I don't want the ratings to improve is so Jason doesn't get an even bigger head than he already has. I'd hate him to think the show couldn't survive without him.

3. Matt was rather good wasn't he? Didn't expect that. Could be quite exciting to watch. Otherwise, the opening show was dull. Seen it all before.

4. I wonder if we can go one series without a cowboy themed routine?

5. The "feud" between Karen & Jason has become so stage-managed, it's ridiculous. Bring back last year's panel!

1. The panel is much better than last year's- that was dull
2. Shame Pam left- felt bad for her
3. Matt and Brianne were over rated and he was arrogant
4. Shayne and Samia werent as good as I thought
5. Keith was much better than expected.

1. Hated the X Factor-style judges' appearance.
2. Funniest shot ever - when the cameras unexpectedly returned to the judging panel to reveal Robin knocking back his water so enthusiastically.
3. Wondering if Chris and Karen are still together?
4. Oh yes, the skating...
5. Loved Jane's amazing entrance during the show dance.

1. Not liking the panel this year & Katarina especially is really missed
2. Matt & Beth definitely the best this week though unless there is a surprise next week am not sure Beth will have much competition from the other women.
3. Whatever is or isn't going on between Samia & Sylvain they had no chemistry on the ice and their performance was rather bland & forgettable.
4. Shayne was very disappointing also though I was pleased Maria didn't go out week 1 again
5. Shame that Pamela was in the skate off - should really have been Samia or Shayne with Keith based on their 1st routines but Keith was the right person to save based on the skate off

1. The Opening Ensemble routine was great, and that was the end of the excitement. The highlight already over.

2. There was far too much talking and precious little actual performance, which is the only reason I watch.

3. The Judges were dreadful (No way should Keith have been scored bottom). The way ITV is promoting Jason v Karen is disgraceful. If they seriously think people will tune in for that on a long term basis - think again. Ashley said nothing of any relevance, except being American she speaks fluently and uses lots of words to do it. The Judge vastly missed was the best Judge from last year - Katarina Witt. As I've said before, the notion that Olympic, World and European Champion skaters can't comment on dance style and presentation aswell as skating technique is beyond absurd.

4. I grant you - Bleakley seemed more relaxed this year, but the so called jokes between her and Pip were pathetic, and just take up more time in between the endless bloody adverts! I was shocked to discover Ivor Baddiel is the scriptwriter!

5. Can someone tell Schofield and Jeff Brazier on This Morning that Beth did not "invent" that move! What Dan said was "that's never been seen on DOI before". The notion that if something is new on DOI it's therefore new in the world of Skating is typical of the ignorance about Skating surrounding this show in recent years. That move HAS been seen by various Pairs skaters and Ice Dance couples over many years, both in competitive routines and gala performances. Can't This Morning get someone who knows what they're talking about so we don't have to put up with Kerry Katona and Jeff Brazier? When Brazier said on DOI when he was a contestant, many weeks in, "I watched Bolero on Youtube last night, I'd never seen it before. T&D were pretty good weren't they?" it summed up how much about Skating some of the contestants know - and even when they get invited on DOI they don't bother spending half an hour finding out about T&D.

Sorry, I've got more:
6. I liked the new Skate Off idea. Keith was scored far too low on first performance anyway, and should never have been last, but FINALLY we got 2 things the rest of the show was missing. We got a decent music track in a classical piece - why don't they use classical more often? As John Curry said, ice skating can express the sweep of classical music better than Ballet. And Olga choreographed a refreshing routine consisting of SKATING across the ice! It was very enjoyable, and when Pam & Matt's routine was the usual mix of Lift, Lift and little skating - she wobbled long before the dress malfunction - I was waiting to see if the Judges would do the right thing, as it was obviously set up for Keith to go out first, which would've been totally unfair, if the Judges had bottled it. Thank Gawd for Keith in this year's line-up, he looks like he's having tons of fun and that's what this show used to be about in series 1.

7. The Results Show went on for 30 mins, and do you mean to tell me that ITV could not fit in a pro routine in that time? Why couldn't the other 6 pros competing next week have rehearsed a routine to skate? Or choose a couple to skate a duet? As it seems T&D have been marginalised/stepped down from performing as many routines as in the past - really the other pros should step in. That's why most people watch. For the Skating, not endless hyping of the bloody judges!

1. Keith was undermarked - and didnt deserve to be in the skate off
2. Shame Pamela went - she didnt deserve to be in the skate off either
3. Matt was overmarked for week 1 - deserved to be top but not by that margin
4. Fed up of the girl celebs hiding lack of skateability behind showy lifts
5. Loved the intro routine - more please!

All of these in that order!

1. love Ashley
2. glad Jason is back
3. all 12 should have skated week 1
4. Karen sucks as a judge, bring back katarina vitt
5. boring Bleakley is still terrible

1. Jason obviously dropped out of charm school
2. Keith's enthusiasm is lovely to see
3. Rather underwhelmed by Shayne
4. Beth is looking as though she will be the best female
5. Would like Katerina back instead of Ashley

1. Karen, as a coach, should not be a judge. She is so unable to give constructive criticism.

2. I quite liked Ashley.

3. Glad an overhyped contestant has gone.

4. I'm hoping we actually see some skating from the females next time they take to the ice, I get fed up of lifts.

5. Matt suprised me, but I didn't take to him.

1) very surprised to see Karen as a judge, she should stick to coaching

2) Disappointed that Pamela ended up in the bottom two, I thought she showed alot of potential on the ice for week 1

3) disappointed that Brianne has, yet again, got a "good one"

4) no idea who most of the pros are apart from Maria, Brianne and Matt - STOP CHANGING THEM EVERY SERIES!!!!

5) Jason and Karen are like kids in a playground, grow up, you are both adults for goodness sake, act like one!

[quote=olivej;63419272]1) very surprised to see Karen as a judge, she should stick to coaching

2) Disappointed that Pamela ended up in the bottom two, I thought she showed alot of potential on the ice for week 1

3) disappointed that Brianne has, yet again, got a "good one"

4) no idea who most of the pros are apart from Maria, Brianne and Matt - STOP CHANGING THEM EVERY SERIES!!!!
5) Jason and Karen are like kids in a playground, grow up, you are both adults for goodness sake, act like one![/QUOTE]


There are actually only three new pros and you missed Dan who has been in it since series one so I would have hoped he was recognisable. The only brand new pros are Andrew, Robin and Jenna. Michael, Sylvain and Olga have all done the show before but have had gaps. Also Mark and Vicky were both pro skaters in last years show too. So not massive changes to the pros really.

Also Jason and Karen are probably being scripted to be like this given it is referenced at every single opportunity and the show is milking it with things like the tape etc.

1. I thought the pace of the show was better than the previous couple of series, but I can't identify exactly why.

2. Thank goodness for the lack of Macleans sponsorship ads. The new sponsor ads seem shorter, to the point and the ice skating clip is vaguely relevant.

3. I thought all the skating was reasonable for week 1 and I enjoyed the show more than I was anticipating.

4. I miss last year's judging panel - last year there was respect, constructiveness and a nicer atmosphere. This year the show producers are obviously setting up for a judges spat between Karen and Jason .

5. The results show is lacking showcasing of skating. In the first half they could easily have fitted in a pro routine as well as a backstage recap.

I wouldn't call a pro who was last on the show seven years ago very 'recognisable'.

Michael was on the show only 2 years ago and Sylvain should have been on last year barring his injury so not 7 years ago in their case.

Olga is the only one that was last on 7 years ago and a lot of people do remember her because she was partnered with John Barrowman. The amount of followers she gained before the show even started and before it was even officially announced shows how well she was remembered.

Adding in a cheeky 6th thought:
I do wish that all the celebrities get to skate a routine before anyone gets voted out.

sorry, I have no idea who any of the pros are apart from the ones I have named and I missed Dan because I didnt recognise him!! still dont know who he is!

I dont care if Jason and Karen are scripted!! its childish and annoying and even more so if it is scripted

1. The standard set by the celebrities was very high; four of the six performed very well, and the other two (Keith and Shane) were still adequate.

2. Pamela did not deserve to be in the skate-off, but deserved to leave based on the 'Save Me Skate'.

3. Beth and Matt have so much potential, as they both skated brilliantly for Week 1.

4. Shane was a disappointment, and was very lucky not to be in the skate-off (even though I knew he wouldn't be).

5. Samia looked good in the air, but her skating skills do not seem promising. I agree with those who think she is reminiscent of Jennifer Ellison.

Overall, it looks to be a fantastic year for DOI.