I wonder, are Ash and Purplestar on Ruthies payroll? Or are they both men taken by a pretty face? I don't think that stage acting can be compared to 'Dancing on ice skates'. The complete concentration that must be needed to just stay on skates during your first few weeks, must be immense. All that plus, trying to remember to smile, keep your hands and arms at the right angle and NOT sing to the music, (as Ms Henshall pointed out to one skater early in the competion). I cannot think that learing lines and walking on stage to deliver them, can possibly compare. Plus there are weeks of rehearsals for stage actors, and runthroughs before they go before the audience. Oh! and if it is not a musical, i.e. simply a play, there is also the prompter.

 Anyway, whatever you do or don't think of Ms Henshall. As I have said on a previous page. I still think she is superfluous to requirements, and that her smile never reaches her eyes. She is COLD, COLD, COLD.

All the above is JUST MY OPINION of course!!!!!

wouldn't it be lovely, Ash, if we were on Ruthie's payroll?!!  Do you think she may read this and might have ideas?!!

 In my opinion....

 If Jason has plenty enough performance experience to judge from a performance and cHoreography side therefore there is no need for Ruthie, shouldn't ITV get rid of the excess ice skaters?!!  This would mean that there would only be 2 judges but at least it would then be fair and equal.  Also - in my opinion - the performance/cHoreography judge who should go is Jason.  He doesn't - in my opinion - have nearly as much experience as Ruthie and is so insecure that he feels the need to personally insult people to gain popularity!!  I have never heard Ruthie personally insult people and as she says herself the best way to judge is constructive criticism with a spoonful of sugar and - in my opinion - that is exactly what she gives every week.  Maybe she has high expectations but that just means that the celebrities work harder and harder every week.  Obviously Ash and I are the only fans of Ruthie on the planet but thanks for at least acknowledging that she has a pretty face!!!  If you believe that all she has done for 22 years is lear (I think you meant learNing lines?) lines and walk on stage to deliver them, you have obviously not seen her in anything that she has been in.  And for your information the celebrities also had weeks of rehearsals before performing before an audience!!!  I thank you.

You're very welcome, purplestar.   Isn't it nice to have a civilised debate without having to resort to calling celebs names.   Obviously you and ash like Ruthie far more than most of us do and I admire you for that.   I have never seen Ruthie in anything, to be honest I do not like musical theatre and I appreciate her stage experience but I just think she comes across as cold, perhaps I feel that whilst she can play "characters" in her musicals/plays the real thing comes across as not very likeable, just my opinion, of course.

noticed Ruthie was at it again last night.   Calling Nicky, picky (Oh that rhymes).   And yet I have nevr heard her say anything to Jason and he is the pickiest individual on the planet.   Once again Ruthie, keep you critique to the celebrities and not other judges, who, let's face it, know more about Dancing on Ice than you ever will.

Watch out Jilly, or Purplestar will have you for not hitting the 'E' key in 'never.

Sorry I missed the 'N' in my text Purplestar I guess I will just have to try harder!! I am also well aware that the skaters get to rehearse. However, I cannot see how you can compare dancing on iceskates, on a totally alien surface, to standing on stage delivering lines. You are quite obviously a Ruth Henshall fan. Although I have seen a great deal of musical theatre, I don't recall seeing her in anything? What was her her last performance? Wizard of Oz? Wicked Witch of the West?

I must be on the same wavelength as you Jilly, except that I do enjoy musical theatre.

woodsmoor, the whole thing about spelling was in fact started by me I'm afraid.   purplestar left the h out of choreography and tbh it looked odd, so I pulled them up about it, OH! silly me, I'll never live it down.   I'm afraid I just can't stand the woman, and as I hinted at in my previous post I honestly don't think she likes Nicky.   It's only ever him that she has a go at.   Not Jason, who, in my opinion, is the most objectionable individual I have ever come across.   I would love either purplestar or ash to tell us what they have seen Ruthie in.   Like you say great minds think alike, (I mean you and me, not ash and purplestar!!!)

woodsmoor:

I am also well aware that the skaters get to rehearse.

 The point I believe I made was that they had weeks of rehearsal before the series even began as do stage performers before a show starts its run!

However, I cannot see how you can compare dancing on iceskates, on a totally alien surface, to standing on stage delivering lines.

I didn't compare them, you did!

You are quite obviously a Ruth Henshall fan. Although I have seen a great deal of musical theatre, I don't recall seeing her in anything? What was her her last performance? Wizard of Oz? Wicked Witch of the West?

Yes I am a RuthIE Henshall fan.  Her last performance was as the lead in Marguerite which was absolutely stunning.

 

jillydisco:

noticed Ruthie was at it again last night.   Calling Nicky, picky (Oh that rhymes).   And yet I have nevr heard her say anything to Jason and he is the pickiest individual on the planet.   Once again Ruthie, keep you critique to the celebrities and not other judges, who, let's face it, know more about Dancing on Ice than you ever will.

 Actually, even though I am a huge fan of Ruthie's I agree that Ruthie shouldn't have called Nicky picky last night!.......shock.......horror I am able to be a grown up after all!!!

What most people don't seem to be picking up on is that this programme is DANCING on Ice. It isn't just about the skating, it is about the dancing as well, and therefore I think it is perfectly reasonable to have 2 judges to comment on the dance and performance side of things, given that there are 3 judges to comment on the skating.

Personally I think that the celebrities should attend dance classes as well as skating lessons in their training before the show starts, as there are some atrocious arm and leg lines still, particularly from the men (Ray excluded). It is quite clear when watching the celebrities skate which have prior dance experience and which don't, and therefore it would seem logical to give the non dancers some dance training to help them look more elegant on the ice.

Ruthie and Jason are perfectly entitled to pass opinion on the performance and dance side of the skating, and I can see why Ruthie may get frustrated and occasionally speak out of turn, as 9 times out of 10 they go to Jason for comments on this side of things because they know that the public like hearing his bitching and nasty comments and it causes a bit of controversy. Ruthie is also entitled to pass comment on the celebrities, and often isn't called on nearly as much as the other judges, because they tend to ask 1 skating judge and 1 performance, which is virtually always Jason.

I find it odd that people think Ruthie is cold. She is often very encouraging to the less confident celebs, and was very supportive of Zoe when she had a bad week etc, and I would consider to be one of the warmest judges in this respect. Personally I think if a judge is going to be replaced it should be Karen, as I think it is wrong that she is both their judge and coach - either she should drop her role as coach, or judge, as it can mean that she focuses too much on their improvement from when they started learning the routine or something, which is pretty irrelevant really, as she is the only judge who sees this process.

Millie1986, I totally agree with every word, I couldn't have put it better myself!

 I hadn't thought of Karen in that respect, it does seem a bit unfair that she is allowed to see both sides of things where the celebs are concerned.  And while we are on the subject of Karen, I have to say something, what has she done to her face?  Is it a case of too much time spent in America?

 

ruthie henshaw drives me mad who is she the term the prince and the chrous girl spring to mind what as she done to judge the skaters get rid of her for the next show and take jason with you rithie

I agree get rid now, she called roxy zoe, she praises zoe constantly and to turn round and say you don't do it for me is a disgrace, she must have been told off because she had to apologise for the name mix up, bring back the original girl they had natalia at least she knew what she was talking about

I used to think Ruthie was a valuable member of the panel (for the performing and acting side of ice dancing), but after her comment this evening I agree she has to go.  It's just shown that if a contestant "just doesn't do it" for her, then no matter how good their performance is, they will never get as high a mark as they should do for their technical and performing ability.  ALL judges should mark with impartiality.

Yip....Ruthie has to go!  I'm disgusted that ITV bosses have kept a judge who is basically not impartial.  Every week from the start of the series, when asked for her opinion of Roxanne, her opinion was never very flattering yet was always glowing for Zoe.  Tonight just proved how rude and unprofessional she is especially as Jason stepped in to praise Roxanne.  Shame on you ITV

I wish I could argue with the remarks made against Ruthie. But it is hard. As for the showman Jason, what was he on this evening. Someone must have spiked his water or done something with him. We all thought it must be a twin or something. Ruthie was Ruthie but Jason?? We will see what happens next week.