Week 9 already and the Team Challenge has arrived!

This puts additional pressures onto the skating stars, as they do not want to let their teammates down.

With the winning team getting their individual points total doubled everything hangs on having great skates as the judges decide on the top group!

With Jorgie and Matthew occupying the top spot on the leaderboard most weeks they were the designated captains chosen at the beginning of the week.

After picking their team it turned out to be boys vs girls! Can’t beat a bit of competition between the sexes!

Jorgie Porter and Matt.

After immense courage from them both last week, they have looked to be working hard in practice.

Skating to ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyonce provided Jorgie with a complete change of theme and pace.

Plenty of energy throughout the sexy routine and she looked fabulous with her curly blonde hair accentuating the head moves!

Although fast she did look in control of her feet on the ice but she was a little up in her knees on some of the crossovers, which slowed it down slightly.

I loved watching it though and she has sealed her place again as one of the winning contenders.

Andy Whyment and Vicky.

I felt really sorry for Andy last week and I thought he was right to argue back with them! This week Andy is Elvis!

Skating to ‘Suspicious Minds’ this weeks practice has been concerned with expression using the body.

Looking funky in white Lycra and sparkles he has a positive opening to the routine with a few hip wiggles and pointing! Lifting Vicky looks easy and his basic skating is getting better every week.

I thought his body positions and movements were much better as was his expression and this was reflected by a score of 20.5! He’s broken through and into the twenties!

Chico and Jodeyne.

‘Im sexy and I know it’ is a perfect song choice for the all-dancing all-smiling Chico!

They have had a couple of bad falls in practice this week, which could provide some anxious thoughts.

A half-naked Chico took to the ice in zebra print leggings providing the audience with some very saucy dance moves!

The leggings showed every line making his job even harder!

I thought he did a great job but his boots looked really loose around his ankle and that was a little worrying! Chico is so confident and positive he was even dancing whilst lifting Jodeyne – a score of 25 reflected how good the routine was.

Chemmy Alcott and Sean.

The Platter lift is making a return in Chemmy’s routine!

This isn’t the easiest one to perform and if she doesn’t hit the right position it makes it extremely difficult for Sean to keep her in the lift.

She looked really elegant in her costume tonight and really suited her hair down.

This wasn’t reflected in the skating although she looked strong around the ice. The Platter lift was much improved on the last attempt and the pair camel spin was nice.

I do feel that she needs to be more refined in her movements right down to her toes and fingertips, as this would give her more elegant lines.

Jennifer Ellison and Daniel.

For me Jennifer is still the weakest skater in the competition so hopefully the high mark she attained last week will have spurred her on to really push it in training this week to prove that it wasn’t a one off. Although the routine was simple in its steps I thought she performed them well and with strength, which is a big improvement.

As always her facial expression throughout was perfect and the held, extended positions beautiful. I would love to see her complete more intricate steps alone but this week has been a big step forward.

Matthew Wolfenden and Nina.

After being publicly outed as Louis favourite Matthew has to keep pushing forward!

After holding a table over his head in practice, lifting Nina shouldn’t be a problem! It was a bouncy, fun routine filled with dancing and great skating.

A one-handed cartwheel lift was completed well although there was a tiny stumble on the exit of a shoulder lift.

He is very competent in his skates and his confidence makes the movements look easy which also makes it very easy to watch.

A massive score of 28.5 was well deserved.

Team Challenge.

Let the battle of the sexes commence! Team Jorgie were given an amazing tune – ‘Spice Up Your Life’!

Taking me straight back to my youth it was all I could do to remain in my seat and not dance… my toes were tapping though!

The girls seemed to have bonded over practice sessions providing each other with helpful advice.

They all seemed super confident throughout the routine and it was fun, energetic and filled with tricks and lifts.

The boy’s song choice of YMCA is inspired and they were playing up the boys vs girls element of the competition. I loved the opening of the boys routine with the dance moves and then the chorus with the typical moves! The audience got behind them joining in which added to the atmosphere as well!

Difficult to make a decision between the girls and boys, I was glad not to be sat with the judges!

Personally, I loved the energy and cheekiness of the boy’s routine but the judges didn’t agree!

I really wanted Andy to be near the top of the leaderboard for once but it was not to be!

Skate-Off.

Chemmy and Andy found themselves in the skate-off and even before they took to the ice I knew Andy was leaving.

The judges haven’t been particularly nice to him and have scored Chemmy up each week – not something I agree with to be honest!

Andy performed well again completing the steps and lifts without problem and finishing with a smile on his face as always!

Chemmy’s routine was also similar to the first without fault and with the Platter lift completed safely even though Sean hit a stray sequin on the ice!

I am so sad to see Andy leave the competition – I thought he deserved more praise for what he achieved every week and I will miss his sense of humour in the competition, as he is a really genuine guy.

He is doing the tour though, so if you want to see him skate again then go and buy tickets!

Next week is a night at the Circus complete with props! Tune in to see who drops the top hat and flings their cane across the ice!