Dancing on Ice
April 12, 2008
Dancing on Ice
Venue: Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Date Reviewed: 11th April, 2008
Dancing on Ice has been transformed from the hit ITV show to a National Arena tour for the second year running and works so well it looks as if it was meant to play these venues all along.
We have the same familiar set up as the TV show with a row five judges; from the TV we have Karen Barber, Robin Cousins, Nicky Slater, Jason Gardener. The fifth judge is billed as a mystery guest and on this occasion we had Steve Coleman from the local Magic FM radio station. At times Steve seemed to want to beat Jason to the title Mr Nasty, especially when he gave Chris Fountain the only low mark that stopped him getting a run of perfect sixes. He also showed that he was not familiar with the show by declaring he was not aware Zaraah was a stand-in skater on the last series (as everyone else in the arena seemed to know she took over from the injured Michael Underwood).
The host for the evening was Andi Peters, himself a past contestant, who did at one point believe he was in Nottingham and not Newcastle, the reaction from the audience soon made him realise he had said something wrong. But with over fifty shows on the tour, who can blame him for not being sure where he was.
Camera situated around the arena broadcast the skating on three very large screens so no one misses anything and the production values are so high the scoring appears just as it does on the TV version.
To start the show, after the audience had been warmed up in true TV style, we had the voice of Shirley Bassey booming out “Lets Get The Party Started” and though the dry ice emerged the professional skaters, joined by the one and only Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean. These world class skaters, who are at the heart of the TV show, have the audience eating out of their hand from the word go. Their skill is unquestionable and they are the perfect professional couple, they make every move appear effortless and eloquent.
We are then presented to our celebrities who between them have competed in all three TV series. The line up can change from venue to venue, but we had David Seaman, Bonnie Langford, Linda Lusari, Kyran Bracken, Suzanne Shaw, Zaraah Abrahams, GARETH Gates, Clare Buckfield and the audiences favourite Chris Fountain.
The format for the first half remained true to the TV, the celebrity and their professional partner skated, then the judges marked their performance. The large screens showed the scores in exactly the way you would at home, so it all felt comfortable and familiar. The surprise was Jason Gardener was in the main very nice and gave reasonable scores. Robin explained his lower marks when Bonnie was dancing, as she was with a new partner and their routine over the next fifty shows would improve but as the judges see the routines often (sometimes twice a day) they can see when something is not right. Although we were told Bonnie had “popped a rib” and it was down to her being a consummate professional and a few pain killers that she was appearing at all, but we would never had guessed as her smile never once faltered.
Likewise Suzanne Shaw was criticised for not getting her second lift correct, it apparently appeared sloppy and was told she needed to snap in to position. Unfortunately she had injured her foot during the routine and had to have immediate treatment which meant she could not appear in the second half and may be out of the show for the rest of the Newcastle shows.
Before the intermission we were told how to text vote for our favourite skater who may win the trophy for that night.
The second half started with a sixties tribute and then a mixture of professional routines interspaced with celebrity pairings, Linda and Daniel, Kyran and Melanie, David and Christine, Clare and Andre and the real crowd pleaser Chris and Frankie. At one point during her routine to “Mad About The Boy” Bonnie’s body appeared to bend in a way that defied she had bones.
The main highlight of the second half was Torvill and Dean who took to the ice in an amazing flying routine. Jayne soared, spun and cart wheeled her way gracefully across the arena, always meeting up with Chris until the both were lifted clear of the ice in a spectacular ending.
To finish the show all celebrities were dressed to skate the Bolero and then the results of the text voting, combined with the judges scores, knocked them out one by one. On this occasion we were left with Chris and Kyran to skate. After both couples had completed their routine the judges made the final decision, and based on that performance alone there was a clean sweep in favour of Kyran, which was the right decision on the night.
Each show has the potential to have a different nightly winner and on the last tour Bonnie won nearly thirty nightly trophies, this year I think it will be very different.
This show works as it remains true and faithful to the TV counterpart, it has the same judges, same professional skaters and a range of celebrities who have appeared on the show. The format remains familiar and the skating is of a very high standard, ranging in skill levels from a hesitant David Seaman to world class Torvill and Dean, but that is what the show is about.
The audience want to see couples glide effortlessly on the ice, girls swung by their legs so their heads miss the ice by millimetres, along with celebrities proving they have been brave enough to give it ago and they get all this and more. This show brings the TV show alive and is first class entertainment for all the family.
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