Battle of the Blades goes country

From a media release:

YEE-HAW! BATTLE OF THE BLADES HEADS TO THE COUNTRY THIS WEEK

• SPECIAL MUSIC RECORDINGS BY THEO FLEURY AND SHAE-LYNN BOURNE
• THIS WEEK’S GUEST JUDGE: SCOTT HAMILTON – THEME: COUNTRY

The remaining five BATTLE OF THE BLADES pairs are dusting off their cowboy hats and bringing a taste of country life to the rink this Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBC Television. Joining the judging panel this week is American figure skating icon, Scott Hamilton.

Scott Hamilton has had an incredible figure skating career. He won four consecutive U.S. championships (1981–1984), four consecutive World Championships (1981–1984) and a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. He was the first male figure skater to be awarded the Jacques Farvat Award (in 1988) and in 1990 he was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.

As one of the greatest and most beloved entertainers to hit the ice, viewers can expect Hamilton to take a keen interest in both the technical and theatrical abilities of the ex-NHL competitors. Joining head judge Sandra Bezic and Jeremy Roenick on the judging panel, the three will watch as the show’s five remaining pairs compete for the fourth time in the hopes of winning a $100,000 donation for their charity of choice. This week’s theme is ‘Country.’

Theo Fleury and Shae-Lynn Bourne have each recorded the country songs they’ll be skating to this week. Fleury has recorded “As the Story Goes” a song that he wrote and Shae-Lynn is singing a duet on the track “All Over Again” with Irish singer Don Mescall.

Viewers can learn more about the competitors at www.cbc.ca/battle, the official online portal for the BATTLE OF THE BLADES. In addition to videos, blogs and behind-the-scene photos, the site offers viewers the opportunity to become fans of their favourite pair and track each participant’s activity as they strive to be the final pair remaining at the end of the series.

BATTLE OF THE BLADES is the brainchild of Kevin Albrecht with development by Sandra Bezic. BATTLE OF THE BLADES executive producers are John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby and Kevin Albrecht and show producers are Sandra Bezic and Sue Brophey. It is produced by Insight Productions in association with CBC Television airing Sunday and Monday nights at 8 p.m. local time.