Just got around to watching my recording of Sundays shows.

Ray was brilliant again. The dance with Maria was lovely and his solo skating was way and above any of the others.

Having said that - I thought Sam was very good and probably deserving of second place for me.

Much as I want Ray to win - I dont think it's by any means a given that he will win. So many people vote on who they like not who is best.

I dont believe that "conspiracies" exist. Routines are choreographed to what each partnership can do - and as Ray is so good they can give him harder stuff to skate. He himself creates the magic on the ice - because he is so fluid and musical and expressive.

Whatever happens in the final result - I think anyone who watches the programme has to be aware that Ray is the best - and if he doesnt win it will be a win for popularity not for the best skater. Most people can see with their own eyes that Ray is the true winner. Hopefully he will lift the trophy but if he doesnt it wont change the fact that he still will be the best skater.

Actually I hope he does take it and I believe it to be constructive. The more things Ray can show he can do, rather than being hampered by moves that add little to the overall level of a routine, the less criticism those routines (and again, not necessarily him personally,) will attract.

it's not a case of the sublime or the ridiculous either. He does not need to omit any particular thing, nor pepper his routines with it.

I've watched the This Morning interview with Kyran. Firstly, Jeff Brazier has changed, as previous weeks he's been praising Ray and saying how ahead of the others he is, but now he's saying he thinks Sam is the best and he's the one he'd vote for.

In a nutshell, Kyran thinks Sam has the 'over all package', but not the public vote, Ray is 'the favourite with the judges' and Beth 'on the back of the current Olympics', has the public vote.

He probably thinks Sam is as good as Ray and deserves the same scores - plus can do the big lifts Ray can't do. Even Jeff commented on Ray's lack of lifts, but like I said on previous weeks he's been all praise for him?

Kyran mentioned someone missing out a lift and 'still scoring 9.5 and 10.0' so he could only mean Ray or Hayley. If Ray, maybe he was going to attempt a lift but it was deemed too dangerous so they decided not to go with it? I'm sure Ray wouldn't miss something out without T and D agreeing to it. (If he did, they would mention it - they have before, with Sam I believe in his series?)

Plus as someone else has mentioned, the difference in size between Kyran and Nina and Sam and Vicky, is bigger than between Ray and Maria.

Having watched Hayley's routine again I think he could be refering to Hayley as there is a point in the routine that looked like it could have gone into a lift but didnt. I wouldn't have seen this if Kyran hadn't made the comment and may be looking into too much

What Ray and Maria could do and I think would suit them and fit their routines well are assisted jumps, which ice dancers used to do a lot of to avoid high or prolonged lifts.

Interestingly this is what they did in their Legohouse routine which they choreographed themselves! So it would seem that it is down to Chris Deans choreography which is not Ray and Maria's fault. Maybe Ray could suggest some assisted lifts but I wonder how amenable Chris is to adapting his choreography on the suggestion of others?

Sorry if I'm slow, but what is meant by assisted lifts

This is and has always been my POV on it, I do think that Ray is to some extent being sold short on his routines.

"Assisted Jump: A jump of not more than one (1) revolution, in which a skater(s) provides passive assistance to another skater(s) in a non-supportive role. The take off must be done by the skater who jumps. In this action there is a continuous ascending and descending movement. The hands of the skater(s) providing the passive assistance must not be raised higher than the shoulders."

http://www.skatecanada.ca/en-us/prog.../glossary.aspx

I'll have to watch again. I tend to switch off when Hayley is on (Me, not literally the TV)

What a shame he didn't mention her by name if so - he wasn't shy at giving his view on the others

I'd be happy if he put in an impressive lift that adds to his performance...but my preference is to see predominantly skating and dancing, especially with Ray, as he does it so well. The odd lift can look spectacular, but from a viewing point of view, I'd much rather the content be mostly about impressive skating, dancing and performing than so many lifts which in my opinion can take away from the flow of the performance and is mostly just about physical strength/balance than anything more artistic. Having enjoyed all of Rays routines, especially the ones he had a hand in choreographing and believing them to be better than any other celebs (and that includes Kyran and Jeffs!) I'd more confident in what he and Maria put into the routines than what Kyran and Jeff would like to see put in. I find it a bit amusing that hes taking critisism and advice from them anyway, given the performances hes put in so far. And I have a feeling Kyran is going on about the lifts because hes strong and good at lifting, and has a tiny partner and hes not so good at the dancing or artistic side

Everyone I speak to about DOI wants Ray to win and I mean everyone. I do hope he wins, it would be a fantastic result and a brilliant end to the show.

Thanks for that - AmyTigger mentioned assisted lifts, but obviously meant jumps

I'm sure Ray and Maria could work this into their routine

I liked their flamenco one best.

Ray is head and shoulders above the rest.

Its not as if 'he cant do wrong in the judgs eyes'. He is definitely without a shadow of a doubt the best dancer on ice, and the judges marks reflect this

Well said Merity my thoughts exactly!

I had a look back at the Lego House routine Amy mentions, there are moves there which may be assisted jumps or gentle lifts, I find it hard to distinguish if I am honest, but anyhow I do think that' s the sort of thing they can do well if high lifts are not feasible or desirable.

Frankie has posted Suzannes blog about the show where she says Sam is as good as Ray but not portrayed that way, asking if its controversial or insightful. Does seem to be a lot more talk than usual about the marking

Only really since a couple of Ex-champs have been eliminated! Sounds like sour grapes to me! In my view Sam may be a good skater but he lacks the presentation skills, personality, musicality and connection with his partner which Ray has. All rather unsavoury really particularly as Ray has been very complimentary about Suzanne (and indeed Kyran) in his weekly blog and also encouraged people to vote for Suzanne when she lost to him in the duel!

All does all seem harsh and unfair. Although I guess Frankie is more impartial
Suzanne and Kyran both seem to get on with Ray, and I know they haven't said anything bad about his personality but it must be a bit hurtful to hear. In Ray's blog this week he praises Kyran and says how hard he worked.

I also find it annoying that people say Ray doesn't do lifts like Sam but the Sam hasn't done a jump like the split jump or the butterfly jump

I suppose neither Suzanne nor Kyran (who are both extremely good celebrity skaters) want to feel they've been part of a competition that now seems to be indicating that nobody but Ray need to bother competing in.

Ray's average score is almost a complete mark per judge higher than his nearest competitor, which (bearing in mind half marks are awarded) is somewhat dismissive of the rest. It doesn't bother me, I think Ray is a hell of a lot better than his nearest competition, but it can't be easy for the others to witness. Obviously if Kyran and Suzanne were to start pontificating about how much they could do in comparison with Ray and how they don't feel he was that much better than they were, it would look like the sourest of grapes. They may be focusing on Sam as an extension of that because he's the only one left who can do anything like what Ray does as well as he does.

To be fair, Sam does tick a lot of boxes when it comes to skating skills and performance. Unfortunately, Ray also ticks virtually all the same boxes with a damn sight more flourish. It may also be that Kyran and Suzanne are being asked to talk up a semblance of competition and Sam, from a skill point of view, is the only one who's really feasible.

Technically she might have a point, but being a good technical skater doesn't necessarily translate into being a good figure skater/ice dancer. If that was the case the speed skaters would also compete in the figure skating/ice dancing.

Sam always looks tense on the ice to me, whereas Ray looks comfortable and relaxed. Obviously it's down to personal choice and I much prefer watching Ray to Sam.

Regarding Sam and Ray, Sam is very tall so at times can look rather ungainly. I think he's had dance training but not sure if t has included ballet. Ray always looks smooth and graceful which means the routines flow more for him.

Despite all the unexpected skate offs, Sam has got this far. I hope he makes the final.

I'm not sure that analogy is right. Speed skaters, figure skaters and speed skaters all use different blades. Ice dance skates are also slightly different from figure skating ones, but there's much less between them. Unless you are on the same blades you will not ever be able to make the same moves.

I can recall a movie, though not the name of it just now, where a young man who had been a hockey skater tried to covert to figure skating and kept getting the toe picks caught and falling over.

Of course Chris Fountain did, it is said, manage this transition quite well, becoming to the untrained eye quite adept at spinning and jumping - much like Ray in that respect. But it may have taken him a very long time to be able to skate smoothly and with finesse, which is something many think Ray can do, though the judges have occasionally described his skating as scratchy.

Perhaps though Ray is all the better for not having been on hockey or speed skates before donning figures ones, though of course he also apparently has some roller skating experience.

I think Ray did roller blading, not roller skating - but it all helps with balance