I agree with a lot of what you say - but there are a couple gaping holes here.

Not sure about including Frankie, I would suggest she's the only one - and she would say that she's his partner.
Yes - T&D have required more of him - but that is because with his previous experience he was always going to be ready for the more difficult moves before anyone else - which is where the advantage lies - but on the other side of the coin he has had to learn to control his natural inclination to tear around the ice and try to deliver a more balanced routine. This is where the girls have an advantage - both have more dance training than him - although he does have some.

As you say Chris was accepted for the show, so obviously he will give it his best shot. Besides it's the final on Sunday - surely this has been debated long enough. I just hope that if he does win, his success isn't tarnished by more of the unfair taunts; and this comes from a Suzanne fan.

Jason is an attention seeker, who loves making outrageous remarks and then sitting back with that "Aren't I clever," look on his face.

If that's their argument, then they're wrong. That's making it sound like the celebs all start from the same point, on the ice, just needing to learn figure skating technique.

Which is obviously false.

Some of them start barely able to stand up. Others start already able to zip around the ice and even do some sorts of jumps.

Even though Chris had to "unlearn" some things that come naturally to hockey players, he had a big advantage.


No, it doesn't. Not automatically. Because he's so much better at skating, he might be playing it a bit safer than the others, even though he's doing things that are much harder.

Also, harder routines aren't just harder. They're also more impressive, for a start. Harder routines shouldn't be seen as somehow cancelling the advantage of his skating experiece; instead, they help translate his skating ability (what he started with, plus what he's learned since) into high marks and votes.


If they say Chris's skating experience doesn't give him an advantage, then that rather is what they're doing.

But I think it's wrong for a judge to raise this now, and in public. Chris was picked for the show, and no rules seem to be broken. The time an place to raise it was much earlier, and behind the scenes.

The others don't work full days and then go on to train at the ice rink late at night.

I'm sorry I didn't quote all of your post. It was a very well constructed argument but you made a particular point that I want to pick up on and agree with.

Whatever you think about Chris and his experience, the point is that Jason is completely out of order. This interview was so close to the final and his comments and conducts are very unprofessional in my opinion. If he wants to be taken seriously as a judge he needs to learn that there is a time and place to make such comments and as Veri says it should have taken place with the producers and not live on national television.

He has been rude and offensive to a lot of contestants this year. And this makes him a bad judge. You don't need to be awful to someone to tell them the truth.

Yes Aggie was awful at skating and yes Greg did lack finesse but there is no need to direct personal comments at them. I've found this unacceptable all year. He'd gotten worse instead of better.

The BBC ran a one-off "Strictly Ice Dancing" on Boxing Day 2004. David Seaman won.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/strictly...ng-dreams.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strictl...ly_Ice_Dancing

Yes I agree - and I reckon he is the only celebrity who is appearing on DOI that isn't doing it to raise his profile or trying to further his career in some way - he doesn't need it.

Sorry I have to disagree with you on this. Of course Chris did the show to raise his profile. Let's be honest he is actor is a small soap that barely three million people watch. He was one of the least known people on the show!.

As a an actor he is hardly at the peak of any career and despite his talent he appears more concerned about being a celebrity than an actor. He hardly seems to taking a career path that will see him be taken seriously or have long term success.

As yes and that hockey skating clearly gave Greg an advantage as well didn't it... oh no.. hang on a second, Greg was rubbish! (not that I don't love him - his leaping around the ice was truly magnificent entertainment!)

Greg looked awkward on the ice, there is no doubt about that, but his actual skating was very good. He wouldn't have been able to do all those jumps he did unless he was a pretty good skater.

It was his timing and his artistry that made him look so bad. He just didn't improve in that area at all.

I suppose that's my point really, the ease on the ice didn't give him that much of an advantage because there are so many elements that go in to the final product. Chris has managed to combine the lot, not that I think he's perfect. I agree with Jason's comments last week, it wasn't flawless, and it could be better. All that said I just think he looks good on the ice, I enjoy watching him

I was reading an article by Nicky Slater today in the Daily Mail where he rates each of their chances. He felt that Chris had a small advantage in the beginning but has had to learn to dance. He also mentions that Suzanne is a trained gymnast and dancer and should do a spectacular wire routine this week.

He has just signed a new contract to stay in Hollyoaks. He doesnt have designs to appear in the West End or in a more watched Soap.

In that case he did have an advantage that even Chris doesn't have - he'd have learned how to present himself. I assume he didn't have to lift his partner though Remember poor Pam


I have to disagree here ava - perhaps we've been agreeing too much of late I think they all hope to raise their profile - but I think DOI does the least for the celebs in that direction; Strictly, Maria, Joseph etc. can lead to theatre/musicals etc. particularly as many of the contestants on the shows (including DOI) perform as singers/dancers/actors etc. Proving themselves on ice doesn't really off the same opportunity.


I loved Greg, clumsy, lovable hunk that he is - but if he'd had any natural grace and artistry then he too would have had an advantage.

OK so Chris did have an advantage at the beginning cos he would have been more comfortable on the ice at the beginning - however, the fact that he was comfortable on ice in a different genre is imo equally a disadvantage as it is an advantage. In some ways its easier to work with a blank canvas than it is to try and repaint over something already half done. As such Chris will have had to relearn all that he knew (and let's face it he played ice hockey in some minor league a few years ago - hardly olympic standard.

As for advantages - doesn't Suzanne have an unfair advantage? I presume given her musical and stage career she will have taken dance lessons of some sort - add that to the fact she is a performer and that gives her a distinct advantage over the likes of Greg and Steve for example. Greg and Steve however, will have had an advantage given that they are sports people and used to the physical demands of training on a regular basis and putting their bodes through tought conditions to get to the best they can be.

I always think that the ones who are the most disadvantaged are the presenters - they are neither actors nor performers, nor are they sports people or dancers.

Jason Gardener really should keep his mouth shut, because plainly as usual he really doesn't know what he is talking about.

He is only young - and has his whole career ahead of him, why rush? To suggest he would rather be a celeb and has no discernable career path is imho assuming rather alot from what we have seen on TV. He can sing, he can act, he can perform and looking at him on ice I would presume he can dance off of it. He might have signed to raise his profile I will agree, and why not? But following this show, and a further stint in hollyoaks I can see him going into musical theatre at some point. And given his age I would suggest he hardly has to decide now exactly what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Loads of people have very lucrative and distinguished careers by not taking themselves too seriously. Nothing wrong in that.

She's not a trained gymnast - and Nicky should get his facts right - it's this sort of speculation that has people screaming unfair.

jason gardiner is a stupid blart.chris had to learn to dance and yet is still the best natural dancer with the most rhythm,jason conveniently forgets the other two had prior dancing experience.cant wait to see the spiteful bitches face when chris wins tomorrow!

More than a bit harsh - Chris is very talented as a skater, but he is not the best natural dancer; not by a long way. Yes the other two had prior dance training, and just as they have never caught up with Chris on the ice, so he has never caught up with them as a dancer.

It's right and understandable that you defend him against Jason - but surely you can do so without being spiteful and bitchy yourself. Jason is an idiot - no one with any sense takes any notice of him - but you can't take the moral highground when you are calling the girls spiteful bitches.

I've seen Chris in interview; he comes across as a really nice young man - he would never talk about his opponents like that - and he wouldn't be too impressed to hear his supporters slagging the girls off.

i think you misread my quote i was calling jason a bitch NOT the girls!!

Hear, hear !

Sorry

Yeay !!

thats ok...thats why i said face in the singular and the only bitch there is jason..ruthie redeemed herself by giving chris a 6.0 last week!
Last edited by bluejools : 15-03-2008 at 16:25

ah you know him personally then or can you just read his thoughts about him being more concerned with his celebrity than his career.you say hes hardly at the peak of any career..i agree.his career hasnt reached its peak yet.DOI will open many more doors for chris if he so wishes.as for you crying down him being in "hollyoaks"one of my best friends is an out of work young actor who would love to have the steady wage packet and fame of chris fountain.he probably makes more in a week than you do in a month.and then some!!

Indeed we don't, and if you want to teach the Antipodean berk a lesson you all know who to vote for.