I have just been watching week5 you tube of chris (my fav from last year) I also love Ray Quinn and for some reason Donal

Chris scored more in week 5 by 0.5 points last year so maybe Ray isnt one in a million afterall.

also without sounding particulary shallow chris is so much better looking.

I think Ray is better than Chris was at week 5

but this is week 4 for Ray being on the ice not week 5 it is for all of them really because of how it started this year

I would say Ray is better than Chris... had they both been in the same series then I would say Ray would be a couple of points ahead each week...

However had they been in the same series I would guess that Chris would've pushed even more to try and win

And the Week 4/ 5 difference is true, by Week 5 Chris had skated 5 times, Ray has only skated 4 times

Ah yes you are right, I forgot that, still they had the same amount to practise assuming that the men were still practising on the womens show.

True... however there being marked in respective to their groups ie had Ray and Chris been marked against each other then I would imagine the scores to be different because of the amount of technical skill etc.

I have a suspicion Ray's scores are being held back in order to preserve the notion of a competition and stop it looking like he's too far ahead. If he's 5 or 6 full points ahead of the others it doesn't bode well for the rest of them!

Honestly, even his first week routine was better than most of the ones we've ever seen on this show.

He's easily better than who was a powerhouse but no dancer imo.

I agreed with this... if they give him a 6.0 now he effectively has nowhere to go for the remaing 5/ 6 (?) weeks

Chris didn't have a great partnership, but Ray's is much better. Coupled with the dancing aspect and there's not much competition really, although Chris had a few tricks up his sleeve that Ray probably couldn't pull off. Obviously, on the same series, their marks would be extremely close together overall though.

well no he made a tiny mistake at the end of his routine which stopped Jason giving him a six he said this on This morning. Also he lent on Mariah a bit heavy when he was doing the element which made her nearly lose her balance it's one of them blink and you will miss moments

That observation really surprises me. I think he went really well with Frankie. She is beautiful to watch and as dynamic as Chris was.

As for Chris V Ray? Well that's a toughie. I think Ray is a lot more confident than Chris who I think put up a front a lot of the time, but perhaps that's just me seeing that. Yes, Chris is a lot nicer looking (not that that should come into it) but carries a little more weight than Ray who is of slight bulid and perhaps that little more nippier as a result.

At the end of the day they are both very good. I have to say I prefer Chris though.

Week 4 Chris's score was 25 (Time Warp)

I like them both for completely different reasons.

That's the thing with Chris.

Frankie is amazing to watch.

Chris is amazing to watch.

Frankie and Chris in a routine together is like watching two amazing people who just happen to be on the ice at the same time. Half the time it was like they were racing rather than dancing.

Ray and Maria are perhaps less dynamic separately but they actually work together as a dancing partnership.

Feel free to move in to our ... ahem .. Donal appreciation thread

I think it's hard to compare Chris (also my fave last year) to Ray ... Chris blew me away from the outset last year. No denying Ray is very good and last nights performance was outstanding but Chris still has the edge for me. Maybe cos last years was the 1st I watched though so I feel more attached to that

i think you could be right in what you are saying there

Ray is miles better. Chris never had the flowing dance that Ray has.

Ray is like a ballet on ice, Chris was stiffer and more mechanical.

Both are excellent but I prefer Ray - he has more natural grace and poise on the ice.

Last year though they under marked scores to what they were in Series Two, so may be doing the same this year.

I think Ray's marginally better...

I agree. I presume this is because Ray, as a ballroom dancer, is used to working as a partnership whereas Chris wasn't.

I can't believe this is even being discussed.

Chris wasn't even as good by the final as Ray was in the first show.

Hmm. I think you are onto something there. I never looked at it like that before. Jolly good point!

Mind you, the one thing Fountain and Quinn do have in common is their desperation to win the show. It radiated off Chris like a beacon and the same can be said of Ray. Mind you, even though I'm not a fan I have to admit he's the best skater this series.

Ray also has much much much more presence on the ice, and flair.

Chris just, I don't know. Was nowhere near as good I think.

Ray appears perfect.

But sometimes perfect is boring, so my vote goes to Chris.