Your comments are spot on I would say. The choice of partners would very much come down to who is already scheduled with who on the tour. No point in pairing Matt, Mel, or Frankie with potentially great partners on the show because Kyran, Suzanne and Chris are most likely already in place to skate the tour with them. Pavel and Jessica and Maria and Ray will be the two pairs to watch this year I would say and an added bonus to the tour if it all works out.

Dan is probably lined up for the tour too so guess they are expecting Roxanne to at least get half way through the series. Seems her biggest problem is standing upright!! Seems she's up for trying risky stuff though.

Ray is a junior ballroom dancing champion and also an experienced ice skater already.

Watch out for the unfair threads then.

Roxy's doing ok actually, Dan seems very pleased with her

I agree with the comments on matts pairing, he said he wouldnt skate with two conrestants on tour again and they really cant break up him and suzanne with her being last years champion, if zoe does the tour she would have to skate with someone else id imagine, or if she did win matt would have to skate with both.

Don't forget that Bonnie went on the Tour last year and was partnered with Pavel instead of Matt. It would make the show more interesting if Suzanne were to be paired with someone else too - let's see if she really is that good. Dan was also paired with the Lara (who had originally skated with Matt) during the first Tour.

If Zoe were to win this year people would expect her to be paired wiht Matt for the show.

Haven't I read somewhere that you know Dan? Any "inside" information that you can share? I didn't see him over Christmas ... he was obviously drinking in a different pub!!

Thats a very different story though cos Bonnie only came third and it was 2 series ago so matt would obviously dance with suzi who came 1st. suzanne is last years champion so people would definietly expect her to dance with matt. Lara was in the aus version and nobody had really heard of her and as matt was skating with someone who was in the gb show she was paired with someone else. They prioritise as to who they skate with, i cant see them breaking up last years winning team as seeing them would be a big attraction for people going, they wont change it for zoe finishing 5th or something, as suzi is champion and as i said unless zoe also comes 1st or perhaps 2nd, matt will skate with suzanne and if she does come 1st or 2nd would probably also have to skate with zoe despite saying he'd never have 2 again.

I think they'd split Suzanne and Matt up rather than Zoe and Matt, if she were to do the tour. I doubt they'd split any couple up that skated in the most recent DOI series. I think it would be good to see Suzanne skate with some other pro.

I think it depends on the position she finished rather than purely whose the most recent. If ellery came 4th i doubt theyd break up chris and frankie. Likewise if zoe did I doubt they'd break suzanne and matt. If she came 6th and did the tour, the majority of people going to the show id imagine would prefer suzi and matt as they are a big attraction regardless of the fact that they were last series, youd want to see this years champs against last years. Id imagine a 1st pairing last year would trump a 5th pairing this one. Id imagine zoe just wouldnt end up doing the tour.
But breaking up a partnership of this year of course would be difficult and strange, it would be disappointing for everyone and itv seem to be trying to avoid it. They've given the front runners for this year, such as ray, jessica and gemma to pros that dont have someone good already signed up for the tour, itv are balancing it, as i suppose they should really cos you cant give the good ones to the same people all the time.

experienced skater not ice skater he said on this morning he has been on the ice with friends a few times if anythink Jessica has a big advantage

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...years-ago.html

As far as the magic word REVENUE is concerned, the DOI show is merely the precursor to THE TOUR which is the real money spinner.*** I definitely think decisions regarding the pairings on the DOI show are very much made in relation to expectations of ticket sales for the tour.*** A winning pair always have a huge following and people expect to see them together, so as long as Kyran is happy to continue the tour, I cant see them putting Mel with anyone else (hence being partnered with Michael Underwood last year, AND this year !!!)** People love Mel and Kyran and expect to see them appear on the ice together.*** Suzanne and Matt not only were winners, but the first pair to get the magic 30 twice* (three times if you count the Christmas show !!)..... so there is no way they are going to be parted on tour.* They are a magic partnership and have a huge fanbase.*** The Barbie and Ken of the tour without a doubt !!Who got the biggest cheers from the girls last year on tour..... Chris Fountain!!!** If he is on the tour again this year, no way is Frankie with anyone else.**** Of course this theory will be shot to hell, if Frankie, Mel and Matt end up with fabulous partners this year LOLOL... but I seriously doubt it !** My cynical side is saying ...give these three a few weeks on the show, and then release them quick to start rehearsals of new show numbers for the tour with their "REAL" partners LOL.** I can very easily see Jessica being this year's female star which hopefully will make her and Pavel a big tour draw.** I loved her in Liberty X, she always came across as a lovely girl.**

Perhaps the advantage/ disadvantage debate thing would be best kept to a topic itself, because as we saw with chris last year, its likely to be a long and contentious topic!
Also I'd take all the *** out fo that post, you dont need to highlight things lol.
I think Zoe and Michael will do reasonably well, maybe halfway for both.
Well the show is obviously the most important thing, who wins on tour kinda becomes trivial you just wanna see the show and your favourites, but it is defo the most money spinnning, so itv would certainly avoid shoothing themselves in the foot by breaking up one of the biggest draws, the champions and runners-up.

Hi Horkesley - good to hear from you. Haha - I'll have to give you a ring so you know who I am!! We have met a couple of times before. I'll get your number and call you and give you all the gossip!

Dansmate ... pm me. I'm intrigued as to who you are!

Really happy with the lineup this year - should be really good!!!

What a small world, Dan's Mate. You're in some of my pictures Will let you know regarding those tickets - not sure about the t-shirts though!!

On the one hand - I agree. On the other - she might be able to skate...

I hope so as Fred is GORGEOUS

Didn't even remember who he was till I googled him - and remembered his face Likewise Jessica Taylor - except it was less than that with her: I don't think I could name a single member of that band, or what they won/ didn't win... But I've heard of more of these than I had of the unknowns on Strictly Come Dancing 2008. That said though - in both shows I'm more interested in the dancing (on or off ice) than in the zlebs, so I'm entertained either way ...

I know this is irrational - but I just cannot get enthusiastic about Dan, although he is one of the most genuine and down to earth pros imaginable. I'm not sure why - perhaps it's because of the fanaticism of his supporters who scream blue murder at the least criticism and vote for him rather than his partner; similarly, perhaps because I think Gaynor won because of Dan, not because she was the best skater.

Whatever - if he makes the final stages this year - I hope it's because Roxanne is good, not because of Dan's following.

I agree with that. I think that Stefan should have won that year, he was a better skater than Gaynor, but I think that her rapport with Dan came across better than Stefan and Kristinas.

Don't remind me!!! Stefan so deserved to win that!

I second that!! But then I have wanted the person who came second to win every year - so whoever I end up wanting to win this year, I'd support the other if I were you