It was a GREAT final! It was my dream final!

Clare Buckfield and Kyran Bracken really both deserved to be there and there versions of The Bolero were enchanting to watch.

I couldn’t choose between the two and with each routine my mind changed about who I wanted to win, in reality, both went in with such fabulous attitudes that there couldn’t really be a loser tonight.

Kyran was crowned the ice skating king, and Clare looked genuinely happy for him. It was British TV at it’s best!

Kyran Bracken, Duncan James and Clare Buckfield are all skated up and ready to go for tomorrow nights Dancing On Ice Final.

Current favourite to win, rugby star, Kyran Bracken said: “There is pressure anyway whether we are favourites or not favourites.”
Advertisement

“We’re just going to skate as well as we can and let the rest take care of itself,” he said.

Fellow finalist Duncan James said that his two-year-old daughter is his biggest fan. “She’s so loyal,” he said.

Meanwhile Clare Buckfield said: “To reach the final was a dream come true and to win would be fantastic.”

How did she do it? Emily Symons has survived another elimination and escaped being in the bottom twos couples tonight in ITV’s Dancing On Ice.

I think that most people would agree that Emily should have left the competition last week, if not before, but somehow she keeps surviving the public vote. Sympathy is a fantastic emotion, but at this stage people should really be voting on the basis of skill and not on personality.

I think it was unfair that Lee had to leave tonight, but as he ended up in the bottom two with Clare Buckfield it wasn’t at all surprising. The judges were unanimous, they saved Clare. Hopefully after this Clare will make the final and Emily will leave next week. A Duncan, Clare, Kyran final is only right.

In a true Jerry Springer moment, Dancing On Ice contestant, Clare Buckley, has declared that she is SO OVER her ex boyfriend Declan Donnelly.

‘I’ve had a couple of relationships since we split with non-celebrities, but they didn’t work out,’ she tells the Daily Mirror.

‘Maybe Mr Right is just around the corner. I understand why people always refer to me as Dec’s ex but hope they’ll soon stop.

‘I hope Dancing On Ice will show me in a different light.’

In almost the same breath though, she declared that she and Dec would never say never, so is she living in hope? Could be.

Early on in the show many people were convinced that Clare Buckfield could not have been a compete skating novice, as she was so much more advanced and skilled than the other celebrities.

But speaking to Philip Schofield Clare claimed that she was a complete novice and had stared at exactly the same level as Kyran (Bracken) and Stephen (Gately). My first though was “Gosh, she’s a quick learner!”

However The Mirror has revealed today that while Clare may never have been a professional skater, she certainly has previous experience. They even have the shots to prove it.

So what do you think? Is it fair that she had a head start and advantage over the rest of the celebrities or is it irrelevant at this point? We’d love to hear what you think.

Ben Shephard interviewed Kay Burley and Fred Palascak (who were knocked out of the competition on Saturday night) and judge Nicky Slater. First the discussion was about the overall performance to date of the competitors with Lee Sharpe and Kyran Bracken being encouraged to but in more performance, going from sportsman to performer.

Duncan James received special recognition as the most improved of the celebrities with his showmanship and natural skating skills, giving great performances. He and his partner Maria Flippox impressed all with their shimmering white outfits commented as looking like a snow prince and princess as they flowed across the ice. It was also said that Duncan related well to Maria and had both stance and speed.

Next, Judge Jason Gardiner came under fire by all at the interview with Kay saying she had nothing against him except she was very angry when he upset her child by nasty personal remarks he had made about her and that he must remember that there are children watching who would not be allowed to talk so ‘rudely’ to each other and that he should think before he says these things. She added that she saw him as a ‘pantomime bad guy’. Some of Jason’s unconstructive and vicious remarks were: ‘People vote for you to see your handsome partner or to see you take one of your many falls’ and ‘you look like a corpse on ice’. ‘Your smile makes you look demented’. ‘You probably would not even exude warmth if you were on fire.’ Etc etc. Her partner, Fred, said that these sort of destructive and cruel remarks have a bad effect on the performer. Judge Nicky stated that he preferred to be constructive in his criticism and also liked to encourage and give praise where deserved but cannot talk for another judge.

When given their ‘faces’ to stick on the picture of the person they thought would win, Fred said he should put it on Kyran because he is so proud of his wife, Melanie’s achievement with Kyran but he was putting it on the ‘under-dog’, Lee. Kay put hers on Kyran although she said we should keep our eye on Emily’s progress.

Apparently judging is made on the night’s show only, not past performance, which does make us wonder why Kay and Fred were chosen by the judges to leave and not Clare Buckfield with Andrei Lipanov, in the skate-off.

After a skate off between Clare Buckfield Dec’s (from Ant and Dec) long time (ex) girlfriend) and Andrei Lipanonov (who she is rumoured to be now dating) the judges chose the accident prone Kay to go. Kay seemed to have been underscored by the judges from beginning and even in the skate-off seemed to be the better skater of the two but at the end of the day, the judges have the final say, not the public.

A brilliant group show item was put on by all the contestants, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, which was outstanding. At first it looked like a show of professionals as the skating was of the highest standard with wonderful manoeuvres being faultlessly performed by all. When the ice show hits the road we will be in for a real treat. Duncan James has already signed up for this.
Next week we will be treated to the ‘Take That’ group playing two numbers during the show. Rugby player Kyran Bracken and Melanie Lambert received the top marks of 27 out of 30 although it was felt that Lee Sharpe and Frankie Poultney and Lisa Scott-Lee with Matt Evers, were every bit as good as Kyran and Melanie.

The costumes were superb with Kay and Lisa dressed as Western Saloon girls, Lisa wearing thigh high boots and both girls boasting sexy black garters.

The skating has become more and more daring as the competition hots up with the competitors vying to make the finals. At this stage anyone could win but the judges seem to favour Kyran and Melanie.

What will they have for us next week?

I can’t believe it! the boys are popping up on all my favourite shows. First the X Factor and now Dancing On Ice!

Reality TV mixed with my all time favourite band….what could be better.

Take That have been lined up to perform live on next weeks Dancing On Ice show. It is said that both Clare Buckfield and Lisa Scott Lee are incredibly nervous at the prospect of meeting the boys…if they can’t manage it I wonder if I could step into their shoes…..what a thought!

The competition is opened each week with world famous Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean giving us a sensational routine followed by manoeuvres expected that night from the competitors.

Tonight the required element was the ‘assisted jump’ with both feet raised from the ground

The performances have become very daring and exciting with each couple introducing more courageous manoeuvres each week and the gap between professional and celebrity becoming less noticeable.

Kyran Bracken and Melanie Lambert with the thousand ruby stoned dress, stole the show and took first place. They kept us on the edge of our seats and holding our breaths as they flawlessly went through their very dangerous routine earning 26 out of 30 points.

Lisa Scott-Lee and partner Matt Evers tied in second place with ClareBuckfield and Andrei Lipanov earning 23.5 points. The competition is exceptionally close and we are enjoying very advanced skating from the top couples.

Not far behind with 23 points were Emily Symons and Daniel Whiston who received high praise from the very critical judge, Jason Gardiner. He commented that Emily’s performance had been ‘sublime’. It has been reported that Emily and her boyfriend have recently broken up because of the demand on her time between ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘Dancing on Ice’ and although being very upset and in great pain because of landing on her coccyx during rehearsals, they pulled off beautiful lifts and twirls with elegant lines and grace.

Hours before the show, Lee Sharpe’s partner, Frankie Poultney had dislocated her wrist bone but, although also in much pain, they pulled off the good lifts and the ‘wrist ripper’. It was a surprise to see them in the bottom two for the skate off but they were saved by all five judges who chose them to stay and Stephen and Kristina to go. Lee was encouraged to work on his performance, more smiles and improve on his upper body.

Lisa Scott Lee and partner Matt Evers wowed us with their ‘sit lift’, reaching great heights and their low spin with her head almost smashing onto the ice. A very exciting and dangerous routine, putting them in the top three.

By judge’s points, Kay Burley and Fred Palascak were in the bottom two but the public votes saved them from the skate off. She looked really cute in her red skating boots, matching her short red dress.

Duncan James, with his new ‘weird’ hairdo, and Maria Flippox received 21.5 points this week and will have to pull off something new and exciting next week to keep up with the top skaters and make the top three.

Seven intense couples will compete next week to remain in ‘Dancing on Ice’. Who will be the next to go?

Dancing On Ice star Clare Buckfield wowed us all on Saturday night with her fabulous skating routine despite suffereing from abroken rib.

The 30 year old broke her rib during rehearsals last week, but decided to skate anyway on saturday, despite the pain.

‘She’s now resting,’ a source told The Sun. ‘She’s in pain and may have to take some time off from rehearsals.’