With Holly Willoughby poorly this week, Colleen Nolan (past Dancing on Ice contestant) stepped in to fill her presenting spot alongside Phillip Schofield.

With Kerry Katona making her (long overdue) departure from the competition last week only seven couples are remaining in the competition.

Opening the show with a South American feel was Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean skating to “Come Dance With Me” – very fitting as the theme of the show was music and dancing from around the world.

All the couples skated out onto the ice to be presented to the viewing audience showcasing a variety of costumes in varying colours.

From some of the outfits I could work out their theme but some definitely kept me guessing!

Laura Hamilton and Colin
Laura was chosen to have a Charleston theme this week although the song used, “Upside Down” was contemporary which was nice.

I really liked the routine as it was fun, energetic and cute and I thought she got into the character really well.

Her costume was an array of pastel colours complete with pink wig, which reminded me of a tub of Neapolitan ice cream, which was slightly distracting!

Her high marks were well deserved as the lifts were executed very well and with confidence.

Laura is certainly improving as the weeks go by and seems to be one of the favourites with the judges.

This was a great opening to the show!

Jeff Brazier and Isabelle
Jeff was picked to skate to the Viennese Waltz, which is a real ice dance piece! Jeff admitted that he didn’t listen to music and ice dance is all about getting the timing right so that everything flows and fits with the music.

Watching Jeff skate to “When I’m With You” I was struck by how much of a perfectionist Jeff is.

His leg lines were beautiful with straight leg extensions and turned out feet.

He skated with soft knees and a fluidity that I thought deserved more than 22.5. He managed a press lift, which, although lacked rotation, (as that is extremely difficult), is a lift that is included in pair skating competitions.

He really came out fighting after being in the skate off last week and connected with Isabelle really well.

Denise Welch and Matt
Samba is Denise’s theme – fast in tempo and the complete opposite to the sedate routine she had last week!

I do think the likeness between Karen Barber and the wig wearing Denise was uncanny and slightly unnerving! She went for some help from bona-fide Samba dancers and got trained in how to “shake her stuff”!

The music was “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez and if I am honest I found it slightly cringe worthy! It was sort of like watching an aging aunt at a wedding trying to dance sexily.

For me, this routine didn’t work.

Denise looked as though she gave it 100% and had great fun but the music was just a little too fast, the movements not always on the beat and the skating slightly worse when compared to last week.

Having said that, full credit to her for going out there and giving it her best shot.

Vanilla Ice and Katie
Flamenco for Vanilla Ice this week skating to Justin Timberlake’s, “Like I Love You”. Although skated well I just couldn’t get into the routine – for me it didn’t have the same impact as last week.

The lifts were done well and the movement’s crisp. He seemed to have tried really hard to make the arm movements convincing and to get into the flamenco “persona”.

For me it will be nice to see him back to his normal self next week as I think this was slightly too far out of his comfort zone.

Jason was correct when he said that the routine was an “essence of flamenco and not strictly a flamenco”.

Sam Attwater and Brianne
I was waiting for this routine as Sam had been given “River Dance” to skate to!!

I was suitably impressed as well with the programme as during rehearsal he had dropped Brianne on the Drape Lift.

Looking fabulous in an outfit of green and not showing any nerves, Sam really attacked the routine and the skating was very smooth with great synchronization between the pair.

I thought he improved on last week’s routine and the high score of 27 was very well deserved.

The style remained throughout the performance and he even cleaned up the footwork so I cannot moan about that anymore.

This certainly was the performance of the night so far!

Chloe Madeley and Michael
Hearts must have been racing in the Dancing On Ice audience as Michael emerged wearing no top this week but a couple of yellow Lycra bands at the top of his arms!

Skating to Holly Valance’s “Kiss Kiss” the programme had an Egyptian theme running through it.

I thought Chloe had put a lot of work into getting the hand gestures correct and authentic. The belt on her skirt broke at the very beginning broke but it didn’t deter her and she really attacked the programme.

It looked fast and smooth across the ice and the spin lift at the end was very well done although the dismount could have been slightly more refined.

I do think Chloe has improved very well from the start of the competition and she is certainly vying for top spot.

Johnson Beharry and Jodeyne
Johnson danced the Tango and skated to “She Drives Me Crazy”. I couldn’t get used to his unsmiling face – he skated the entire routine with a serious look on his face, which showed he really did get into the character of the programme!

His movements were sharp and the lifts have certainly got better with him lifting Jodeyne on his shoulder and also aiding her to do a somersault.

14.5 was the score, which I thought was a little low for what he did but for me he showed improvement again.

I do think that the connection between them could have been better and this could be an explanation for the lower score. What I like about him is that he tackles every challenge with the same positivity and even when it is difficult he always turns out a good skate.

Skate-Off
Well, I thought that Denise should be leaving the competition but once again, the public has saved her to skate another week!

This left Laura and Colin and Vanilla Ice and Katie in the skate off.

These two being in the bottom two was quite a difficult predicament for the judges as they could both skate.

Laura was up first with her Charleston number and she skated it with more strength than the first time. She also was more expressive with her arms and head movements that reflected the music better.

Vanilla Ice skated second and although he skated just as well as the first time I have to admit that I preferred Laura’s routine.

It seemed that the judges agreed with me, yey!

Vanilla Ice has skated his last routine and left the competition.

It seems a shame that Denise is still in but he has had to leave but that is the nature of the beast!

Apparently next week the skaters will face a challenge that could shake up the leader board! Interesting stuff! We will find out more during the week leading up to the show I am sure!