Skating legends and Dancing on Ice judges Torvill and Dean dish out gongs to this year's skating stars…
We’ve had jumps, spins, lifts and headbangers galore, and now the final three celebrities and their partners will take to the ice to battle it out for the title of Dancing on Ice champion 2019.
Skating legends and show judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have been really impressed with the quality of the skating this series.
"This series has been tremendous. The standard of the celebrities competing, they’ve really challenged themselves and brought the level of the show up so high. It’s been a great series for us to judge because each week it’s not been predictable at all," says Chris, with Jayne adding. "Any of the three finalists could go all the way."
With a special performance from Torvill and Dean themselves, the final of Dancing on Ice promises to be an entertainment extravaganza. But before that, Jayne, 61, and Chris, 60, hand out their own awards to this year’s skating stars…
Most surprising skater: Wes Nelson (and Vanessa Bauer)
Chris: "I'd say Wes Nelson has been the most surprising for me." Jayne: "Wes had no previous experience. Not just in terms of skating but also in terms of performance, dance training and knowing how to hold his body. When Wes and Vanessa did their headbanger the studio audience went crazy!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R7ChJ2afeY
Best partnership: Brian McFadden and Alex Murphy
Chris: "I’d say Brian McFadden and Alex Murphy have been the best partnership. They really get on well. I think they laugh a lot, which you do with Brian; he’s the man of one-liners. They’ve really formed a great bond."
https://youtu.be/XZGnUF4PZKI
Most dedicated: Saara Aalto (and Hamish Gaman)
Jayne: "I think Saara Aalto’s worked really, really hard this series. Sometimes she’ll attempt things that she finds a bit scary but she gives everything a try and always aims to do her best."
https://youtu.be/OPP17W8vW0w
Most improved: Melody Thornton (and Alexander Demetriou)
Chris: "I'd have to say Melody Thornton. On her first week she was very nervous and wasn't able to perform in the way she does now. Sometimes with performers, when it starts to go wrong, it can really affect the rest of the routine. But when Melody’s on it, she’s really on it!"
https://youtu.be/Do_50KC7R6o
Best routine: James Jordan (and Alexandra Schauman)
Jayne: "We all thought James Jordan’s ballet routine was amazing." Chris: "I know James is a dancer and everyone says he has an advantage. But he didn’t at the beginning – everybody had a similar ability when they first stepped onto the ice. But I think he’s really finessed his moves and, because of his dance background, he can make himself look aesthetically lovely on the ice."
https://youtu.be/RgiKrlu7ijE
Team player: Didi Conn (and Łukasz Różycki)
Chris: "I loved meeting Didi Conn. She was a truly lovely lady who was giving it a real go for the ‘seniors’. I think she did tremendously well; she equipped herself well and looked great. I think she exceeded her own expectations and really enjoyed the process as well. She charmed everybody she spoke to."
https://youtu.be/lmDi574arLA
Torvill and Dean's special award: Ryan Sidebottom (and Brandee Malto)
Jayne: "We have to mention Ryan Sidebottom, our gentle giant. He’d never done anything like this before and he struggled in the early days plus he had an injury and, being tall, he’s not the perfect size to be a skater. But he just did so well and, in his own way, he improved and got to the point where he really could skate."
https://youtu.be/ckWXsiESvI4
And who could forget The GC?
Chris: "Gemma Collins was a larger than life character. She admitted she was never going to be as good as some of the others and I think sometimes she did do the best she could. Sometimes…"
https://youtu.be/DvM_sFXUSDU
The Dancing on Ice final can be seen on Sunday March 9 at 6pm on ITV.
