Dancing On Ice – 06/10

Nicky was a judge on Dancing on ice for five years from 2006 to 2010.

He finished partly because lawyers had gone on holiday and deadlines he had set passed and the producers thought he didn’t want to be there! So when Nicky learnt of this and got back driving the negotiation he found that the producers had  ’refreshed’ the panel! Which meant they cut it to three judges from five! A touch of self sabotage then? Perhaps only NS himslef could get himself removed from a Prime Time TV Special? Discuss…

Nicky “I met some superb people on my Dancing On Ice journey and being part of a BIG SHOW was brilliant. I had some huge challenges to face as well. DOI was not always a great place to be – Character Building – would sum up those moments. Love your neighbour being a pertinent challenge I scripted and presented for Thought for the Day for Radio Two! ‘If you haven’t got anything good to say don’t say it,’ was a part of my upbringing as was ‘Loyalty to the absent,’ (don’t speak about people anything you would not say to them directly).’ These tenants were not present for some of my colleagues on the show. Perhaps that’s the real world but it’s not the world I like or buy in too.

I always aimed ‘to give encouragement’ to celebs and professionals. I also tried to be absolutely fair regardless of celebrity or lack of or audience glamour. It takes character to stand firm against the crowd. I believe, in the end, I managed to do that in a way that had no rancour. To be able to stand as ten thousand boo you and carry on with a reasoned argument as to why you gave the marks you did is something I am quite proud of. The gladiatorial arena not listening to the reasoned, correct, answer. Actually many many did agree but they wanted a good old English Pantomine boo. Great fun.

I watched the start and end programmes of the last series. It was odd to observe it. There were just three judges and Karen was on a lone pedestal with the skaters. What came up for me was that previously: (1) we never had enough time to speak as judges, (2) I stood for the ice dancing and Jason Gardiner stood for choreography, (3) Karen was able to comment and debate with other judges more legitimately, (4) the new set had grandeur but not the immediate audience interaction from before.

I remember more tension, more immediacy. Now it feels a settled family at the core, it’s comfortable, there’s lots of space around the judges. Karen out in the corner. A central stage for presenting. Not the same dynamic, not so edgy. But then, when you are in it you have a different persepctive so I may be interpreting chalk with cheese.

Set piece arguments from the contrived set up of Karen and Jason are not convincing for me. More time for judges to speak is great – if you are a judge – but looses that urgency the audience live and at home picks up.

I saw the final with very little actual skating and no one saying anything about it! From the many ‘Well done to one and all’ that eminated from the judges I got the impression that you have to be ‘in the journey’ to appreciate the ending. Watching it from cold I just saw a lack of actual skating that still, and always, bugs me.

As I look back I’m happy in myself that I did add a touch of life, provoked some laughter and some very loud and long good natured boos on tour and was a stand for the skaters. At the end of the day being a judge is an isolating role and I am, at heart, an entertainer whocan be tough but has a soft heart. So the dichotomy of the two in me makes ‘judging’ a stretch. I am glad I encouraged some folk and the backstage chats and robust discussions with celebrities who wanted to know ‘why’ you gave that mark were good for them and me I hope/think. When I skated I hated the judges and loved the audience. My upbringing was one whereby I heard of deals of allegances of wrongs done by judges daily over the kicthen table. To be one, as I was at The World Professional Championships and at Strictly Ice Dancing and then at Dancing On Ice has been interesting, DOI was a  season.

I have some great moments to cherish – running up and down stadium seating with Kyran Bracken every day before shows on tour and pitching against him was one. Me and a captain of England. Rock and Roll. Standing for Chris Fountain and Ray Quinn against the glamour of the audience for Hayley and as one show exec said to me afterwards –  ”Boo…. I agree with every word you said.” I made some fopars, it was hard sometimes being a part of the group because I was a judge and I need a rocket to get me out and about to events – love it when I am there though. Hanging out with the tech team and seeing their professionalism was also great fun. Guys I have two tour cases! Yeah…

There were many notable moments – Katie – remember the purple gloves moment! The shave discussion!

Fred, a Guinness when I see you next. Paul you should see the studio… Simon… Bisi… Stephen…

Truth be told though I do just get on with my own thing and I’m rubbish at staying in touch. Part of my competitive ice upbringing I suppose. You met at events. But if you don’t get to the event you miss people. I wasn’t invited, which I can quite understand and was fine, but I missed a quick hello to folk.

But as a friend who knows very well the intensity the show can deliver said to me. “Why would you do that? (Judge Dancing on Ice)  ”Karen on one side of you and Jason on the other. You are better out of it.”

I have a statement and some blog bits still up on this site. You can click on the blog panel on the top right to see if you are interested.

If you are a DOI Fan keep enjoying the show. Whilst I give some critique above it still is a huge entertainment show with all the professionalism that this entails and I love. They do need another judge though…

Perhaps though being free of such a show is good for me. It took much head time and the fierceness of some relationships I experienced are not what I would choose to have in my normal life.

I work away now – (Aug 2011) – learning to create music and visuals and developing show possibilities. I love to entertain people and I love the world of entertainment. It’s up to me to create something of worth and get it where you can see it. – Wish me luck…

The best is yet to come.

Love

Nicky”