Jake Quickenden and his skating partner Vanessa Bauer scored the highest mark of this year’s Dancing On Ice on Sunday.
The former X Factor star, 29, and his pro partner scooped a whopping 33.5 points for their romantic routine to Jame Bay’s Let It Go, improving on their previous series high of 27.5.
A clearly nervous Jake had to nail a one-handed lift during the pair’s romantic routine to James Bay’s Let It Go, which he pulled off with finesse.
Wow factor: Jake Quickenden and his skating partner Vanessa Bauer scored the highest mark of this year’s Dancing On Ice on Sunday
Flawless: A clearly nervous Jake had to nail a one-handed lift during the pair’s romantic routine to James Bay’s Let It Go, which he pulled off with finesse scoring a whopping 33.5 points
Jason Gardiner scored 8.5, Ashley Banjo 8, Jayne Torvill 8.5, and Christopher Dean 8.5 making for a series high of 33.5.
Jake said: ‘What’s this, I needed a calculator to add that up’ as Vanessa broke down in tears.
Ashley said: ‘Favourite piece of the series so far. It was so well performed, it was just, you’ve taken this to a new level.’
Jason said: ‘You are one of my favourite partnerships, you push the boundaries. It was just sublime. You are a major contender.
Jayne said: ‘It had everything, I love the way you transition, It was so smooth and professional.’
Chris said: ‘Nobody else can rotate like you. Nobody has done that before, bigger and better, let’s go.’
The opening saw the celebrities and pro skaters take to the rink for a Street Party themed routine to Dancing In The Street by David Bowie and Mick Jagger.
Holly Willoughby flashed her cleavage in a plunging powder blue gown with a sparkling bodice.
First up was rugby star Max Evans and pro Ale Izquierdo, who bounced back from a nasty fall last week.
And younger brother Thom was on hand to offer his sibling some much needed support, complete with dance moves.
They took to the rink with a high-octane Charleston themed performance to Pencil Full of Lead by Paolo Nutuni, complete with fun-filled lifts and jumps.
Fun filled: Donna Air and Mark Hanretty took to the rink with a fun performance to Let’s Get Loud
The judges gave a stellar list of scores with Jason 6.5, Ashley, 6.5, Jayne, 6.5, Chris, 6.5 with a total of 26 out of 40, their highest score of the competition
A breathless Max said: ‘That routine was so hard, I have so much respect for skaters, they make it look easy and it’s so hard.
Chris said: ‘There was a lot in there, a lot of steps, you broke into a polka, it was connected up. Just be careful Ale you’re not skating off without him. If you want to stay at the front, we’re gonna need some bigger elements.
Jayne said: ‘I liked the more difficult steps, well done.’
Jason added: ‘It had great character and personality. You gave an inspired performance, I didn’t think you two could pull this off, you did an excellent job.
Ashley completed the critique by saying: ‘You guys never take the easy route, you make it difficult and I appreciate it.’
Donna Air and Mark Hanretty took to the rink with a fun performance to Let’s Get Loud.
Finesse: Jason scored 6.5, Ashley, 6.5, Jayne 6.5 and Chris 6 totalling 25.5
Jason scored 6.5, Ashley, 6.5, Jayne 6.5 and Chris 6 totalling 25.5.
Jayne said: It needed a bit more Latin but I liked it.’
Ashley said: ‘It was a joy to watch, give it some.’;
Jason said: ‘It was a bit reserved, you are naturally elegant, it needed more fire. It needed more intensity.;
Chris said: ‘It needed more va-va-voom. It’s lively, you were conservative with it. I still love her skating.’
Singer Lemar and his partner Melody Le Moal were next to skate, hoping to avoid the skate-off for a record fourth week
Filled with ambitious lifts, the star was keen to show much he had progressed as the pair raced through their routine to Shape of You by Ed Sheeran.
Jason scored 5, Ashley 5, Jayne 5.5, and Chris 5 totalling 20.5, which was Lemar’s highest score of the series.
Lemar said: ‘It would be nice to go through one week without a skate-off, as it’s standard.
Jayne said: ‘I can see the improvement. Well done both of you.’
A whimsical Chris did a rather unusual demonstration to show Lemar how not to do lifts saying: ‘You can’t do lifts like this, followed by a series of awkward pelvic thrusts, leading to laughs from the audience as a flushed Holly said ‘I don’t know where to look’
Lemar said: ‘That’s a different type of performance!’
Jason said:’ I don’t know what lifts you’re doing! We never do lifts like that in the ballet.’
Ashley said: ‘This is your best week, I want you to stay in the competition.’
Cheryl Baker and partner Dan Whiston pulled off a beautiful performance to Billy Joel’s Always A Woman.
Jason scored 4.5, Ashley 4.5, Jayne, 5, and Chris scored 5 totalling 19 out of 40, a personal best for Cheryl.
Cheryl said: ‘I’m thrilled, I absolutely loved that.’
Chris said: ‘The skating is definitely better, more than anything the emotion you brought to it.
Jayne said: ‘I loved the connection you had, the positions you took in the lift.’
Jason added: ‘This week you actually improved, but I am so glad you have improved in the overall basics. It was moving in the right direction.’
Ashley said: ‘You have kept on improving, I applaud you for that.’
Bouncing back from fractured ribs that jeopardised his future in the competition, Coronation Street star Antony Cotton and his partner Brandee Malto pulled off a fun performance to Shirley Bassey’s I Am What I Am.
In his VT a defiant Antony said: ‘I’m not letting this stop me from doing what I need to do.’
Jason scored: 4, Ashley scored 5, Jayne scored 5, and Chris 5, totalling 19, a slight dip from last week.
Holding his ribs, Antony said: ‘I’m still alive, it is what it is, it’s showbiz. It absolutely bloomin kills, it is what it is.’
Chris said: ‘You are continuing to improve, you’ve had a tough week, the show must go on.’
Savaging the routine Jason said: ‘I didn’t get it, are you a next door neighbour, I didn’t get any excitement from it. It was very disappointing.’
Antony retorted: ‘It’s called having fun Jason!’
Jayne said: ‘The unison wasn’t there, get better soon.’
Ashley said: ‘You continue to improve, it was a great job.’
Dancing on Ice fans were left furious on Sunday night as Lemar survived the skate-off for the third week in a row.
Viewers took to Twitter in outrage as the ice panel saved the singer once again, sending athlete Perri Shakes-Drayton home, labelling the decision fixed.
Perri was eliminated from the competition after her skate-off performance despite receiving a higher score than Lemar, in a night which saw Jake Quickenden and Kem Cetinay finish joint top of the leaderboard.
Dancing to Kelly Clarkson’s What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger) Perri gave it her all in a bid to win the judge’s vote with partner Hamish Gaman.
Following on, Lemar once again danced to Bruno Mars’ Grenade, though he and partner Melody Le Moal added in a new move in an attempt to win over the panel.
When it came to the judges’ deciding moment, the panel unanimously chose to save Lemar, sending Perri home.
Speaking to Holly and Phil upon her exit, she said: ‘I was enjoying it, I wasn’t ready to go home. Unfortunately Lemar was the better skater today, so Lemar stays!