this is Rays blog from last Sunday. Very generous about Sam.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ray-quinn/ray-quinn-dancing-on-ice-final_b_4896555.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Not sure if link will work!

The link isn't working

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/4896555?utm_hp_ref=tw Does that work?

Yes thanks

*goes back to read blog*

I've read it - I thought Sam's hair looked odd in the pic with Ray then realised I think he's wearing a cap

I wonder who the elderly couple are in the pic at the bottom - it doesn't say? (Maybe Ray's grandparents?)

Very nice blog, he comes across very well. Very nice about Sam, although Robin said Sam was one of the best technical skaters not the best.
Ray clearly thinks Sam was the better technical skater, which further shows he is not arrogant or cocky

Translation: I thought I had won this show with ease.

Wow, he really does think the world of himself. After his "shaken to the bones" comment at being in the skate off as well, I'm hoping he doesn't win now.

That might be your translation but not mine, it doesn't read that way to me.

But a lot of people thought he would win with ease - he's been bookies favourite from week one, he's leading on all the polls, topped the leaderboard every week. He's been lulled into a false sense of security, so to suddenly be in a skate off would certainly be a wake up call (I imagine Sam was just as shocked at being in a skate off - was it week 1?)

The good thing is that a) he'll come back fighting on Sunday and b) it will cause his complacent supporters to lift the phone now they know he needs the votes.

"Robin and Jason saved me in the end but Robin said that Sam shouldn't have been in the skate-off as he was technically the most talented skater left on the show."

Translation: The public were wrong putting Sam in the skate off over Beth and Hayley.

"Robin was right, it wasn't fair but it's not just about the judges' decision the public votes clearly hadn't gone our way."

Translation: I shouldn't have been in the skate off.

He's so smug, I know he's the best skater left but criticising the public's voting choice and saying others should have been in the skate off just tries to put Hayley, Beth and the public in a bad light but in my opinion it just puts Ray in a bad light.

you're seeing what you want to see.

Indeed!! Amazing what you can read into something when it suits!

Ray is a bit uneasy now because he thinks it might come down to who is the most popular, not who is the best (which he certainly is).

Translation: I can't stick Ray and I don't care who knows it.

These aren't the first translations of Rays words... when Ray praised Sam and spoke about how daunting it was being in the skate-off, particularly when he was up against Sam, it was translated as meaning he was in disbelief at not being the most popular with the public and was deliberately having a dig at Hayley and Beth. I was baffled by that one.

Are you still pushing this line? Just because you make it up does not make it true.

Tranlsation: True. He is the best skater and dancer but to me he comes across unlikeable. I normally back the underdogs in these shows or someone who doesn't have much skating / dancing experience prior to being a contestant.

ETA: I mean before their initial series, not this one obviously as they all have previous ice dance experience through their own series.

And yet you said this on Sunday Evening:

I think he doesn't come across as likeable as the two girls but I'd say he's improved his skating and dancing this series compared to the high level he achieved in his series. To me Ray is less likeable than the others but he is deserving of the trophy as he is the best skater and dancer out of the contestants. Mind you, if Chris Fountain was in this series I think he could've got the title of Best Skater but sadly we'll never know.

Translation: I don't like Ray because he is the best and I only like losers.

Personally I prefer watching someone progress over the series who comes from no ice dancing background and progresses over the series like Donal for example.

How many times do people have to be told Ray had NO ice dancing background AT ALL prior to DOI! He was a dancer and he had done rollerblading like most teenage lads that's all! It really is quite irritating that people keep stating something as a fact which is downright untrue.

Maybe there is some confusion with Chris Fountain who was an experienced ice hockey player before DOI? I appreciate that Ray started at a high level because he took to ice skating very naturally and was naturally talented so his progress may be less obvious to some but just to reiterate Ray had NO ice dancing background AT ALL!

Like Ray you mean?


You have got me so

If this was 'Big Brother', I'd be supporting the nicest, most likeable personality. It's not, so I couldn't give a flying fig about who out of these three likeable people is the most likeable! I also don't care who's had the biggest journey, etc, etc. This is about who's the best ice dancer. It would be a travesty if that person doesn't win. Your BIB says it all!

I share this viewpoint. It's very clear that Ray is head and shoulders above everyone else who has ever appeared in Dancing on Ice - the only one who ever came close was Chris Fountain - so it really would make no sense for anyone else to win. At the same time, I'm more than a little surprised at the suggestion (assumption) that Hayley and Beth more likable than Ray.