DOI champ criticises show changes

Kyran Bracken believes the 'Dancing On Ice' format changes came at the "wrong time".

The former rugby player - who won the ITV1 series in 2007 - explained while twists in the voting procedure, including making the contestants decide who should be eliminated in week four, were "great ideas", there have been too many changes this year.

Writing on his Blue Room blog, he said: "They were great ideas, however, all at the wrong time which is such a shame. Can you imagine if next week was purely down to the public vote or if the celebs got to decide who stays and who goes?

"It would make great TV. The twists would become soooooo interesting. Would the celebs vote tactically? Would the public vote to keep the best skater Sam in?(sic)"

The sports star recently slammed the show's judging panel - Robin Cousins, Emma Bunton and Jason Gardiner - for being a "turnoff" because only Robin is from a professional skating background.

He said: "Let me highlight my biggest turnoff this year - THE JUDGING! There is only one score and decision I acknowledge and that is Robin's.

"We now have two judges who vote on performance and one judge who votes on both skating and performance. In previous years they have had 60 per cent of the panel as skaters, now its only 33 per cent."