By now I love the taxis coming to get me on each filming day. If I had had door-to-door transport when I lived in London I would never have had to move to Brighton.

I was excited to see the studio where we would be based until the end of the series. It was somewhere out near Heathrow in a very dull looking building, but the Skate Nation studio was like a chameleon. With the lights off it looked like a warehouse with some bits of wood suspended from the ceiling, but with the lights on it came alive and looked incredible!

When I first walked in everyone was working. Sam and Mark were on the floor rehearsing with several cameras and just inside the main door was a tiny room no more than 4m x 4m with tones of monitors and wires and loads of people sitting down with headphones off looking at the monitors and playing with switches. A whole other world. Everyone was silent, concentrating, well everyone except Sam and Mark who were laughing about something. They have an amazing energy those two and you can tell they have been friends for years. They can switch from silliness to seriousness in a flash and they had impressed me with their delivery of lines, like actors learning every one. This morning they were rehearsing using auto cue which hadn’t been used so far.

The set really was amazing, the BBC have some good carpenters on hand, but it was all simple ideas done very effectively. I was glad to see the skating area had increased substantially from the space used at the Heats I was fascinated by the jib camera, which swoops around and is the simplest lever system whereby the smallest movements from the job controller create such an exaggerated effect. It seemed to narrowly miss Sam and Mark as they walk energetically into shot with their signature “Hello”. Teams were being prepped with costumes and make up. Now I realized why there were 2 full time costume staff on the show. I had ignorantly thought they were there just for presenter and judges (although after initial shopping I wondered what they were up to). The sense of occasion was palpable and we were all excited to see the teams after Pro Skate Camp.

First up was the Coast Bladers with the basketball routine they’d learned at Skate Camp. They scored 3 Silvers and set a good standard for those following. Next were the Roller Rockets, missing Michaela after her ankle mishap at Skate Camp, but hoping if they made it through she would join them next week. In cute Rock and Roll outfits dancing to Knarles Barkley the roller rockets looked more rehearsed and an impressive double salcow from Nathaniel was noted and they scored 2 Golds and a Silver.

The Blades of Glory in their Austin Powers get up didn’t show off the team’s skating talent and they scored 2 Bronze and a Silver. The Rapid Rollers with a surfing Beach Boys vibe looked more relaxed, until Maya’s ankle strap came completely undone. I whispered to Kevin what I had noticed and I felt Maya’s panic (as would be natural). I think it was only her background as a speed skater, which meant she could continue without full ankle support (many other skaters in that situation would not have coped so well). I use loosening of the ankle straps as a teaching technique with more advanced students, as it shows them their tendency to overuse the side of the boot cuff for ankle support (instead of bending the knee fully and centring the point of balance in the foot). Praise was due indeed. 2 Silvers and a Bronze.

Essence livened things up with their slick dance steps and they raked in 3 Golds, creating a real bus in the audience and judges (remember Torvill and Dean’s all perfect scores?)…. That was a hard act to follow for the Fab 4 who scored 3 Bronzes to Beyonce’s Single Ladies. Slap shots high energy rap routine was an improvement and earned them a Gold and 2 Silvers. The Angels skated last with a slick and polished cheer leader routine earning them 3 Golds and much extra pompom twirling.

As we were to discover on Skate Nation, the studio audience can create real havoc to the judges informed scores. But this format has worked on numerous other shows allowing other qualities and attributes to be rewarded, and bringing in a sense of unexpectedness. The Fab 4 and Blades of Glory were voted as facing each other in the show down where they skated their routines again. Both teams delivered better performances but Fab 4 were chosen by the judges to Skate Home, leaving the excited Blades of Glory to compete again in the next show.

Another week of practice (as well as going to school and work) awaited the successful teams along with learning of a new routine and perfecting of a new skill. Another possibility of being told to ‘Skate Home’.

I was exhausted after the shoot. Sitting straight up, smiling for a long time in a studio which was very hot due to the strong lights was something I was unaccustomed too as my job usually requires me outdoor. Sam and Mark filmed their numerous links, delivering their lines from various angles. The studio audience were extremely well behaved and excited to witness the making of a TV show up close. I enjoyed watching the camera men and women do their job, noting their attention to details and constant adjustments to the equipment, and moving of wires and then repeating it all again form the same place. Again, another world of work which I had access to observe. Fascinating.

I discovered that Kevin drinks more water than I do (for those that know me, this is quite an achievement). I have never had to use so much cotton wool to take off make up before. It looked like a chocolate gateaux had been removed from my face when I looked at the first tissue. I had been feeling it cracking by the end of the shoot. It did feel like taking off a mask. I had enjoyed my heat curled hair (this was the first time they had done anything with my hair and the first time my hair had ever seen a heating implement (I don’t even use a hairdryer ever). Perfect ringlets instead of massive frizz. But really, it took a while and who has time for that on any normal kind of basis? Even to go out I wouldn’t find the time for that kind of self-prep. I’m simply skater girl at heart.