From a media release:
BATTLE OF THE BLADES UNVEILS ITS FINALE WEEKEND PROGRAM
- Winning Pair Awarded $100,000 Charity Donation
- Guest Judge: Christopher Dean
- All Eight Pairs Reunite For Group Ensemble Number
- Special Performances By Kurt Browning and Ron MacLean
- “Extreme†Performance By Violetta Afanasieva and Pete Dack
As BATTLE OF THE BLADES enters its final week, the remaining three skating pairs are preparing for their most important performance yet; the one that will determine their fate in this exhilarating competition series. Last week, a whopping 1.769 million* Canadians tuned in to see the final four fight for a spot in the top three. Contenders for the winning title are: “The Actors†Shae-Lynn Bourne and Patrice Brisebois; “The Sleepers†Isabelle Brasseur and Todd Warriner; and “The Russians†Ekaterina Gordeeva and Valeri Bure. Both Sunday’s performance show and Monday’s finale air 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) to 9 p.m. (9:30 NT), local time on CBC Television.
Joining the judging panel this week is British Olympic Gold Medalist and four-time World Champion, Christopher Dean. He and his partner Jayne Torvill are arguably the greatest ice dancers in the history of figure skating. He is looking forward to lending his expertise while sitting alongside head judge Sandra Bezic and permanent judge Jeremy Roenick as they comment on each of the performances but do not assign a score. Only Canada can declare the winning pair, as determined by the highest number of votes.
The final battle begins on Sunday, November 21 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), when the top three pairs are given two last opportunities to impress Canadians and the judging panel. The first performance is “Skaters’ Choice†where the music and direction of the routine is selected by the pair. The second skate is the pair’s favourite performance of the season – the one they feel best highlights their skill and personality.
The BATTLE OF THE BLADES finale airs Monday, November 22 from 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) to 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)local time with an action-packed show featuring familiar faces, incredible performances and, of course, the announcement of this season’s winning pair. Kicking things off is an ensemble piece by all eight pairs of the competition, followed by the “Men of Blades†with co-hosts Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning performing alongside the eight ex-NHLers. Next, Kurt joins the “Women of Blades†for a figure skating spectacle and the action continues as Violetta Afanasieva and her husband Pete Dack treat audiences to their “extreme†skating style – hula-hoop’s and all!
After the winning pair has been awarded the Crystal Trophy and performed one last time together, they will ceremoniously hand over the $100,000 donation to their chosen charity, or $50,000 each if the pair is splitting their support. The charities are: Shae-Lynn Bourne for Make-A-Wish Canada and Patrice Brisebois for Sainte-Justine UHC Foundation; Isabelle Brasseur and Todd Warriner for Heart And Stroke Foundation; Ekaterina Gordeeva for Cardiac Kids and Valeri Bure for Compassion Canada.
Viewers can learn more about the competitors at www.cbc.ca/battle, the official online portal or 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.
