It does seem that way doesn't it... and there is no doubt NO ONE can match him talent wise. BUT.... there is that all important likeability factor that can sway a vote in the end, and if another pair do a very good routine and come across far more likeable on the night, you never know how it could affect the vote.

Don't be so sure. I agree that Ray is the best skater on the show, but don't forget in the final it is purely down to the public vote. Last year the judges game Matt 10's and declared him the winner, but the public had other ideas and Beth won comfortably. If Beth makes the final, it will be a close thing I think as she clearly connects very well with the GBP.

I think it's a bit different this year as I do believe Ray enjoys a level of support and popularity Matt L. never did last year. Also Ray and Maria as a partnership work so well in a way Matt and Brianne did not despite their relationship. I know some people find Ray arrogant - I personally do not - I find him simply very enthusiastic hardworking and exuberant! I would suggest Maria's popularity rating is higher too as a pro. So it is not the same playing field. Also although he is not a favourite of mine particularly and much prefer Beth with Andrei I have no doubt Dan had a bigger fan base too. Also Ray is a far more talented natural skater and performer than Matt so it is a totally different scenario this year and I don't believe what happened in previous years is a pointer for the result this time. If previous series votes were relevant Ray won his final by a landslide but I think each series is different.

I hope you can be proved wrong. I would prefer anyone else to win.

He's not too bad - until he opens his mouth.

I totally agree.


True dat. Sam is very unlikeable.

Well their both arrogant but the difference is Ray knows how good he is yet Sam thinks he's better than he actually is. Sam is not as nearly as good as when he was in it the first time round. Ray just keeps getting better!

This idea of Ray being smug and arrogant seems to crop up every week. What others see as arrogance, I see as rather refreshing enthusiasm - almost childlike in a way. He gets excited and isn't scared to show it by covering it up with what appears as completely phony humility put on by a couple of the other celebs.

As for his skating - that flamenco routine was amazing.

Agree. You actually enjoy the whole performance as if you're watching professionalss, confident that it will go well. It seems like you've got to act insecure, or cry, or fall, or be criticised by the judges before you'll get some votes though. And whatever you do never be confident in your own abilities (and if you are, pretend you're not as they'd rather see you faking a 'oh I'm not so good, I don't love it so much, I'm actually really nervous and think everyone is better than me') as being happy and confident is a definite no no among a lot of the British public.

You are so right. And heaven help those who appear to be competitive - that's an even bigger NO NO when taking part in a competition.

On the upside, all those who don't like a competitive spirit must be really happy right now given the results by the cricketers in Oz!

I absolutely agree. It's a shame as I would enjoy his routines better if they were done by someone else! It's Ray that I can't stand.

If anyone other than Ray wins this series, I will be happy!

None of the other male celebs are capable of doing Ray's routines, the only person who might have come close is Chris Fountain and sadly he isn't in it.

Thats true of a majority of routines. Hayley can't do most of Suzanne or Bonnie's or Beths routines. Beth can't act Hayley's. Ray can't put up Suzanne's lifts, or lifts Kyran can do. Suzanne and Hayley can do all but the fastest of Ray's dances near enough as well, but we haven't seen them yet do Kyran's jumps and spins.

Its up to T and D to maximise everyone elses potential. At the moment, its a self fulfilling phrophecy who will win - because Ray and Hayley get what they excel at, and can't be given things they can't do - while others get routines that don't allow them to do what they can do best, or get the really difficult moves Ray and Hayley can't have. If you maximised, Beth, Suzanne and Kyran's abilities as consistently, or spread around the straight dancing routines Hayley in particular gets, it would look a closer competition. And, in a closer looking competition, acting, show story,likeability, the right routine, and wow factor, may count more against being the best skater and most trained dancer there.


Actually, it seems to be a problem they just haven't thought through. They could even things up with a weekly skills test - but these contestants all have different areas they excel in - so any achievable test would be random, and something some could already do and some never. They couldn't ask Ray to do a big lift , or people to jump as high as Ray, or break their ankles trying to do Kyran's axels. But they can't do what they have been doing. its just unfair to give Kyran big lifts in a weak routine because otherwise there would be none on the show - or to give Hayley the dance numbers that Suzanne could do equally well, because Suzanne can do a couple of big tricks that week Hayley can't.

I agree to an extent- however, Ray did a few big lifts (overhead drape for example) in his series but not til later on that year. It's quite possible that he is saving them for later in the competition or, as other forum members suggest, that his skating and dancing skills mean that the big, showy lifts are pointless and could even detract from the flow of his performances.