Trem two your posting is unfair to those who have never seen strictly come dancing or indeed any other tv talent contest. It does not matter whether it was on BBC or ITV people that enjoy skating or indeed dance may have just tuned in to enjoy the programme regardless of the set, the atmosphere, or the audience

Fair question.

In reality it was actually quite the opposite. Before the series even started i was initially rather annoyed at ITV for showing such lack of imagination as to copy a successful rival format. Hence, i wanted it to flop.

As i sat down to watch last night my fear was actually that it might be genuinely quite good. I had long accepted that, if done well, it could actually be a quality show. So i was looking for evidence of this throughout. However, from the moment in began i was struck by its tackiness and it went from bad to worse. I wasn't LOOKING for negatives any less than i was LOOKING for positives. I genuinely gave it a fair chance.

She should cover that body up a bit more - not a pretty sight IMHO. Too angular and muscly.

I'm not asking anyone not to enjoy it. If it pleases you - great.

I'm arguing that is isn't a quality show as a production. Different issue.

But your arguments referred to SCD as a comparrison in almost every point you made.

Because SCD is the blueprint on which Dancing On ice was based. I'm just poiting out what i think makes SCD a great show and why Dancing On Ice fails to be such. The comparison is inevitable.

That still doesn't mean you aren't free to enjoy it.

Last year I think, he did it to raise money for charity.

Absolute nonsense!
I hadn't even heard of strictly come dancing until about 3 weeks before dancing on ice was announced.
I certainly dont know what the format entails nor do thousands of others who have never seen it.

I liked it! (and not just because of my slight crush on John Barrowman )

Andi Peters skates like I do, so how he managed to survive I don't know. Kelly Holmes will probably go far because of who she is, even though her routine was being pulled about and occasionally picked up by her partner, I didn't see her do anything by herself!

Remind me exactly who he is and what he is known for?

Musicals star for ages, used to co-present Live and Kicking, a few film cameos (The Producers, most recently) more recently Captain Jack in Doctor Who, about to get his own spin-off. I only know him because I saw him as Chris in Miss Saigon aggeeesss ago, and kept an eye on him ever since

You said earlier that my post was 'unfair to those who had never seen SCD or any other reality TV show'. May i now say that you are being unfair to those of us who HAVE!



I'm juding Dancing On ice as I see it, and given that it is a VERSION of another format IT IS inevitable that it will be compared to the original. You can't go up to someone, plead total ignorance on the subject being discussed then tell them they are talking absolute nonesense.

I reall don't see what you are getting at. How exactly does me comparing the show with SCD offend your right to enjoy a show you clearly like?

Between 1983 and 1985 he performed in productions of Hello, Dolly!, Oliver!, Camelot, L'il Abner and Anything Goes. He has appeared in several West End musicals, including Anything Goes, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast, Matador, Hair, Grease! and The Phantom of the Opera. He has also appeared in the West End in non-musical dramas, such as Rope and the 2005 production of A Few Good Men, in which Barrowman starred opposite Rob Lowe. Most recently he starred in Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre for the 2005-6 Christmas season.

He has played the role of Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard in the West End and, briefly, on Broadway. His only other Broadway credit is the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together (1999–2000).

Barrowman appeared in the first run of the BBC children's variety show Live & Kicking in 1993-1994, co-hosting the show with Andi Peters and Emma Forbes, before moving on to The Movie Game, a television game show.

He is probably best known in the United States for starring roles in several short-lived prime-time soap operas such as Titans with Yasmine Bleeth in 2000 and Central Park West, as well as the low-budget cult film Shark Attack 3.

He appeared in five episodes of the BBC One science fiction television series Doctor Who (2005) as Captain Jack Harkness, beginning in The Empty Child. On 17 October 2005, The Independent reported that the BBC had commissioned a 13-part Doctor Who spin-off series titled Torchwood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barrowman

wow what a comprehensive Biography.
I love musical and west end shows but would never think to remember any of the actors afterwards or remember their names unfortunately!
I havent seen Dr Who though I have heard of it enough to know that it exists but couldnt tell you anything about it!
Never seen Live and Kicking must assume that it was dreaded Saturday morning churn out? Andi peters I do recognise however! He must have presented CBBC in the days before they branded it in its own identity.
Actually there are quite a few whom I dont know!
Andrea - Never heard of her! (please fill me in someone)
Bonnie - Country Singer in the 80's ?
Gaynor - Corronation Street's Judy Mallet Obviously!
Tamara - Never Heard of her (isnt one of the celebrity coaches also Tamara?)
Kelly well athlete or something, I dont follow sports but she is celebrated as a hero and role model amongst the black Afro Caribbean community.
David??? No idea??? But from some of the footage clips I guess a football or sports commentator of some sort? He looks like the guy with a pony tale who asked his mum for crisps in the Walkers ads.
Sean well Martin Platt obviously
Stefan in the Bill or Holby city or some show I have never seen the clip seemed to be set in a hospital or clinic of some sort

By the way digimon900 - i am intrigued as to how someone who had "never even heard of Strictly Come Dancing" or watched any reality TV show came to know about the advent on Dancing On Ice on ITV. To live completely oblivious to the cultural phenomenon that is reality TV contests for over five years would take some orchestration and planning, let alone be achieved by accident. I'm not criticising you - many would argue its the worst TV genre of them all. But assuming you are someone who owns a television, reads newspapers, listens to the radio, talks to people in a social environment - i can't fathom how you could "never have heard of" these shows. Which then intrigues me as to how someone like you would arrive at the realisation that [i]Dancing On Ice[i] wa starting?

I'm even more baffled now!

Have you only recently bought a tv? Strictly come Dancing passing you by I can understand, but not knowing who Kelly Holmes is? The Beeb have trapsed her out with her two gold metals every week since the Olympics! David Seaman is the ex-England/Arsenal goalkeeper.

I have no idea who Stefan or Andrea are - though I gather Bonnie was Violet Elizabeth Bott in Just William. Tamara is an "it-girl", and so pointless knowing anything about.

I do know who kelly holmes is. I am not sure about gold or any other medals didnt know that. Dont follow or understand any sports events and was only really aware of the existence of the Olympics when the 2012 bid thing was being applied for and campaigned about. I had no idea what the Olympics were about or thier history or anything I certainly have no recollection of them ever taking place before.
I know nothing about football I vaguely know that the goalkeeper has to stand in front of the net and I know some team names but player's names, rules, or any facts about the game well...
Wish I seen Just William I used to love the books as a kid I didnt know it was a film.
What does an It girl mean?

Aw, she's lovely. Probably the only reason I had it on.

Some of us might like fit & athletic women. Each to his own!

They had the close up of an ice skate blade scraping the ice in between ads and programmes and loads of Dancing on ice trailers over the past few weeks!
And being a skater was somewhat intrigued.
I have no idea how other reality shows affect other people or indeed what other people watch! I dont know anyone who actually watches or has spoken to me about any of them other than big brother.
I have never read a newspaper in my life I certainly dont intend to start now. Apart from the fact that it would not occur to me to do so nor would I ever remember to go and get one, or take time out to read it, I believe that if something is news it will be on the web or BBC news 24 and anything else is just lining the pockets of some media mogul whose wealth was created by publicly speading the misery of others. The Wright stuff on Five is good as they read out any worthwhile stories from the papers that wont necessarily make TV news and all without me having to buy a paper and make murdoch richer than he is
I do read the free advertiser for the jobs and local comment...
Social situations are short at the moment
I live some 250 miles from my friends, family, and social life all in London, and live alone with my 6 year old who is autistic, he has made no friends at school because of his condition and we are both as a result treated badly by the other parents at school. I dont go out as I have no one to baby sit and very often the only other adult contact I have is when his class teacher calls me in to explain that he has misbehaved or if I chat to the checkout operator when shopping.
I work part time in London where I look after 3 kids, by the time their parents come home and my shift is over there is no time for social chit chat of any kind! During my visits to my London I try to cram in seeing all my friends and family so the rush and getting involved in family issues and what is going on amongst ourselves leaves very little time to watch or discuss TV!
Apart form that my family (and most friends) are african and I was brought up as part of an african community. We tend mostly to do our own thing amongst ourselves and as a result I have very limited knowledge and experience of what the popular and cultural views of the UK as a whole nation are.
Last edited by digimon900 : 15-01-2006 at 20:10

As someone who rarely watched SCD (can't stand Bruce Forsyth anyhow), I can't really comment on the similarities between the programmes; all I can say is that Torvill & Dean were ABSOLUTE heroes to me as a kid and it is SO good to see them back on TV!

IMHO it's probably far more difficult to learn to dance on skates than it is to become a competent ballroom dancer. I like the fact that most of the celebs on this prog have told it like it is about how they've struggled so far; nonetheless they've all made amazing progress.

John Barrowman impressed me the most this first week, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how everyone progresses during the course of this series. (Even Andi Peters, if he lasts!)

Really hope this prog does well because T&D are still amazing and should be a major coup for ITV, despite the Beeb trying to steal their thunder with Strictly Ice Dancing.

(And this from someone who normally doesn't watch ANYTHING on primetime ITV, if at all)

Thanks Moon! I dont feel so much of an alien now!

I didn't know at first if I would enjoy this programme or not. I decided to give it a chance - I thought Bonnie was fabulous (she's over 40 you know!!! said the voiceover - blimey as old as the dinosaurs - please). I also thought Captain Jack was terrific, loved his sparkly black jacket (reminded me of Julian Clary in his Jive pink sparkly jacket) and also thought Martin Platt (sorry can't remember his name at the mo) was fab - first out must be the worst on the nerves - you set the standard. If I catch it in future then great I'll watch it, but not go out my way to see it. I did not like Holly or some of the judges - how they got their big heads into that studio was a mystery.

Why are people saying they should have employed a house band??

When do you ever see professional Ice Dancers skating to a live band or orchestra in competitions or exibition shows??
They always peform to a pre recorded track.

Personally the "live band" is is one of the worse aspects of SCD as I always find it sounds naff. But I suppose thats what happens in professional contests.

I enjoyed it, the celebs were very good considering most of them had hardly skated before - I was quite surprised (and a bit disappointed!) no one fell over