Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer back for another week

Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer are the first pair to be saved in the BATTLE OF THE BLADES figure skating competition, joining the six remaining pairs for a chance to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice. Kristina Lenko and Bob Probert were the first eliminated, as the results were revealed during tonight’s broadcast.

The two pairs with the fewest votes in the first week of BATTLE OF THE BLADES were Dubreuil and Richer, who skated to Queen’s We Will Rock You and, Lenko and Probert, who performed their routine to Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild. Both pairs performed again before the panel of judges, Sandra Bezic, Dick Button and guest judge Kelly Hrudey, for a final chance to remain in the show. All three praised tonight’s performances and were impressed with both pairs’ improvement from Sunday’s skate. For their efforts, Lenko and Probert’s Canadian charity, Wounded Warriors, will receive a $25,000 donation.

The seven pairs returning to compete on October 11 are: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux, Isabelle Brasseur and Glenn Anderson, Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer, Jodeyne Higgins and Ken Daneyko, Christine Hough-Sweeney and Tie Domi, Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson, Barbara Underhill and Ron Duguay.

Viewers can learn more about the competitors at www.cbc.ca/battle, the official online portal for the series and the source for everything about BATTLE OF THE BLADES. In addition to competition recap videos 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. It is produced by Insight Productions in association with CBC Television.