On thin ice: Former Dancing On Ice judge Nicky Slater doesn't approve of the show's new format
As the opening music struck up for the first show in the new series of ITV1’s Dancing On Ice last Sunday, Nicky Slater settled down to watch from an unusual vantage point: a sofa.
Normally, he would be sitting on the judges’ bench in the studio at this time, checking that his marking boards were in order, turning his notepad to a clean sheet and making last minute adjustments to his microphone.
At least, that’s what he did before every show for the past five years. As a former British Champion and Junior World Ice Dancing Champion, who was ranked in the world’s top five ice dancers and has competed in two Winter Olympics, he was one of the best-qualified members of the panel.
Then last autumn he was told the show was being ‘refreshed’ for 2011 and that his services were no longer required.
His former skating partner and ex-girlfriend Karen Barber, who had sat on the panel next to him, and was last year rumoured to have become close to the show’s star skater Christopher Dean, after being photographed leaving his flat on several mornings, learned she was being moved to the role of mentor.
A lavish new set would be built, ITV announced proudly, there would be fewer judges, changes to the marking system, a different setup of skate-offs and the show would be a lot more glamorous.
But has the new format worked — or is it a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water?
As the only reality series remaining once The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing season ends, Dancing On Ice has in the past been a huge ratings success for ITV.
But this year, a still-reeling Nicky found himself nursing a glass of wine as he watched the grand re-design with his wife Christiane, while their three-year-old son, who Nicky calls Tiger, played at his feet.
‘It was a bizarre feeling to be just one of nine million viewers and no longer part of the inner circle,’ says Nicky, 52.
‘It was a massive kick up the backside for me. I thought I would find it upsetting to watch the show, but, in fact, I was no longer emotionally attached, so I found it cathartic. It was brilliant not to have to make considered judgments under the pressure of live TV.
‘Of course, the world was absolutely distraught that I was missing from the panel and I was flooded with messages.
‘Well, two texts and one phone call!’
The first thing he noticed was that with the set bigger and more ambitious this time around and, with the audience out of view for much of the show, there was a loss of intimacy.
That was then: Nicky was one of the most experienced voices on the judging panel - and always tried to offer words of encouragement
But what about the line-up of celebrity skaters. Last week, these included Kerry Katona, Jeff Brazier and Vanilla Ice.
‘They could have spent more money on booking better-known stars rather than making expensive cosmetic changes to the set.
‘But I have nothing against those who are taking part and am looking forward to seeing this Sunday’s line up, including Frank Lampard’s ex-girlfriend Elen Rives. Once they establish their personalities with viewers it won’t matter whether they are A-list or Z-list,’ he says.
‘The emphasis now is on entertainment, rather than having a serious ice dancing competition — which is the wrong way around.’
The judging panel is down from five to three people — choreographer Jason Gardiner, singles skating champion Robin Cousins and singer Emma Bunton — and is unbalanced, Nicky feels.
Show time! Contestant Elen Rives will face the judges in the new series
‘Emma is more exposed as she doesn’t have enough ice-skating experience. Jason has no experience either and reduced the series to a low point last year with one particular comment to Sharron Davies, which should not have been said on a family show.
‘I think Robin looks very good in the middle of the panel as chief judge but although a great skater he was not an ice dancer, which is what the competition is about. And that was the expertise Karen and I brought to the panel.’
However, he admits it would have made him even more unhappy about being sacked if he had been replaced by someone with similar qualifications.
‘On Sunday, I saw Kerry Katona being virtually carried around the floor by her partner, Dan Whiston. He was the one doing all the work.
Jason gave her high marks, as he didn’t see beyond the presentation to the technique — why would he? He’s not an ice dancer, like me. If I had been on the panel, I would have marked her down and, no doubt, there would have been a fuss with me seen as the baddie.
‘And talking of Jason, what’s happened to him? I don’t mean that he seems to have given up those roll-neck jumpers — so last year — in favour of a cheeky hat, but he’s in danger of becoming Mr Nice Guy.
‘Every criticism he made last week was tempered by an encouraging comment. I even found myself agreeing with him, which is not something I often did when we were both judges. In the past, it often got to the point where I felt worn down by his and Karen’s negativity.
‘With their aggression and the audience booing, the tension made me feel embattled. My style is to give constructive criticism without becoming bitchy.
‘The bonus is that with fewer judges there is more time for them to all have their say, so some really constructive points can be made. When there were five of us, only two or three would be called upon, but we never knew who Holly Willoughby was going to ask.
‘So that created tension, which I sensed was missing on Sunday with them all knowing they could have their say — it was a bit anodyne.
‘But now, not only have the judges been cut down, they have been sidelined, at the far end of the rink instead of being at the front where they can better see and be seen.
‘What’s the point of having Karen sitting at the side and having no say in the marking? Apparently, her job is to coach the contestants and defend them from unfair comments from the judges, but that fairy godmother role will never work.
The panel's all wrong... Jason Gardiner (left) and Emma Bunton (centre) have no skating experience, compared to former pro-skater Robin Cousins (right)
‘She could be very outspoken when she was judging and neither she nor Jason suffer fools gladly.
‘So there is a great potential for fireworks - and some very personal comments about each other - when things hot up in the coming weeks.’
Nicky also says the revamp has detracted from the show’s edginess.
‘It’s become safe. And much less intimate. With this big arena, you don’t get the impression of the speed of the skating and the view of the dancers isn’t so good.’
The change in the marking system has not been for the best, either.
‘We used to mark from zero to six, in half-point increments. That gave us more flexibility if we wanted to mark someone up slightly, but didn’t want to award a full extra point.
‘Perhaps I took the scoring too seriously — although I admit to once slipping an extra half point onto a dancer’s score just because she winked at me. Now, the scoring is from zero to ten, which isn’t so good as we will no longer see the skating “brand” of the perfect six and it inhibits the judges more.’
Just for old times’ sake, he did his own scoring and then checked the points against those given by the judges.
‘The viewers at home see things differently. Whereas Robin and Emma gave Kerry Katona five and Jason awarded her four, I gave her three as she was being propped up by Dan. By contrast, Nickelodeon presenter Laura Hamilton was in the bottom three, but I gave her a well-deserved eight — Robin and Emma gave her six and Jason four.’
But in spite of his criticisms, Nicky insists that Dancing On Ice continues to be great television.
Chilly atmosphere: Presenter Holly Willoughby was forced to intervene when relations between Nicky and fellow judge Jason Gardiner became heated
‘Some people think I’m bitter because I’ve been sacked, but I’m not. It all happened when we started negotiating our contracts for the 2011 shows,’ he explains.
‘I’d had a long battle before last year’s series, as the contract being offered was so strict I felt I would be completely owned by ITV for the period of the show, which goes on for almost three months.
‘Whatever I wanted to do would have been under their control. I almost walked away from the show, but I bit the bullet and signed.
This time, however, five years of buffeting had taken their toll, so I got a lawyer to do it for me.
‘I wonder if I got a touch of celebrity-itis. You know, being on TV, touring the country with the Dancing On Ice stage show, convincing myself I should be paid more. The third party negotiations dragged on and I found myself battling with my own lawyer.
‘Maybe unacceptable demands were being made on my behalf or maybe ITV was digging its heels in.
‘The upshot was the producers suddenly told me they’d decided to refresh the show and I wasn’t part of their new plans. I was out.
‘Perhaps if I’d handled my negotiations, we could have reached an agreement. Who knows? I’m so cross with myself.’
When the axe fell, only a sympathetic Robin Cousins got in touch. There was silence from Jason and Karen — ‘we don’t have a lot in common and don’t even exchange Christmas cards’.
And, says Nicky, there was no word from Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
‘There was rivalry between us way back, when we competed against each other. He is the alpha male on the show and maybe he remembers that I once said that while he was a good skater, it was Jayne who provided his golden ticket to the top. That was a factual, not personal statement. Anyway, I heard nothing.’
During Sunday night’s show, Nicky sent a text message to Robin Cousins’ mobile phone: ‘You’re looking great, but you’re not missing me.’
Cousins read it during a commercial break and sent this reply: ‘We are missing you.’
With a wistful look, Nicky says: ‘I hope he meant it.’
Dancing On Ice is on ITV1 on Sunday at 6.35pm. Visit nickyslater.com
Source:Dailymail