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Coronation Street - Icy Role
Former Coronation Street actor Sean Wilson, who played Martin Platt for 20 years, has landed a new deal in the reality TV show Strictly Ice Dancing, with the likes of Bonnie Langford.

He is quoted as saying: "It's just what I was looking for after years in a soap."

waveguide

Strictly Come Dancing on Ice hits screens next month.
Put your money on Tamara Beckwith, who practices
furiously every Monday with Jane Torville.
source popbitch

Torvill and Dean re-unite for show

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean reunite for the first time in eight years on the new ITV show Dancing on Ice.

The pair's last performance together was in 1998 - shortly before they announced their retirement.

Now they have recaptured the spectacle for the first time for the Saturday night show.

They will be looking after a team of aspiring skaters, including Olympic Gold medallist Kelly Holmes, ex England goalkeeper David Seaman and former IT girl Tamara Beckwith.

Broadway and West End star John Barrowman; TV presenter Andi Peters, dancer Bonnie Langford, The Bill's Stefan Booth, Coronation Street's Sean Wilson, GMTV's Andrea McLean and Fat Friends star Gaynor Faye are also on board.

A panel of judges and viewers' votes will decide who should skate on or off the live Saturday night championship, which starts on January 14.

Jayne, 48, said: "It's great working together again. We danced together every day for 25 years, so to get back together after almost a decade is just brilliant. We just fit together so well."

More than 24 million people watched Torvill and Dean skate their way to gold medal stardom at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics on Valentines Day in 1984.

The TV news was delayed and the House of Commons stopped in the middle of a debate to watch the couple receive an unprecedented 12 perfect scores with their now iconic interpretation of Ravel's Bolero. [url=http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/entertainment/news/story.htm?articleid=A8767161136308641A000&linkfrom=entertainment__ent_newhome&article=TorvillandDeanreuniteforshow&link=headline_1wanadoo[/url]

PAUL Burrell has been booted off Dancing On Ice — because his skating was so poor.
Sun

It's ice to hear that former Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are reuniting for the first time in eight years on new ITV reality show Dancing On Ice.

They will be looking after a team of aspiring skaters, including Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes, ex-England goalkeeper David Seaman (surprise star of the BBC's Strictly Ice Dancing) and Twit Girl Tamara Beckwith.

Also hoping to glide to victory are stage star John Barrowman, TV presenter Andi Peters, dancer Bonnie Langford (who'll scweam and scweam if she doesn't win), The Bill's Stefan Booth, Corrie's Sean Wilson, GMTV weather girl Andrea McLean and Fat Friends actress Gaynor Faye.

A panel of judges and viewers will decide who's skating on very thin ice and should be voted off the live Saturday night championship, which starts on January 14. We're already oiling our blades and blowing the cobwebs off our muffs in anticipation! wanadoo

DANCING ON ICE' TV PROGRAMME

REX

ITV's Ice Dance Challenge

Ten celebrities will take to the ice to compete at figure skating under the expert tuition of Torvill and Dean in ITV's Dancing On Ice, which starts Saturday.

The former Olympic champions will turn rivals as they train two teams of celebrities - including former England goalkeeper David Seaman and Olympic Gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes - in the art of "ice-dance".

One contestant will be thrown off every week and the final winner will be crowned Britain's new ice sensation.

One team features Holmes, Seaman, West End star John Barrowman, former children's TV presenter Andi Peters and dancer Bonny Langford.

The second is made up of Fat Friends star Gaynor Faye, socialite Tamara Beckwith, Stefan Booth from The Bill, ex-Coronation Street actor Sean Wilson and Andrea McLean from GMTV. waveguide

Tonight's rink ranks

There wasn't a slip in sight. Well, there were one or two. But in general, our skaters produced impeccable routines.

But did our judges agree?

Well, Nicky, Krez, Jason, Karen and Robin certainly had a few opinions. And here's what they thought:

Sean and Marika dancing to 'A Little Less Conversation'
Total score: 18.0/30

Robin's verdict: I was very impressed. You looked like you had done this before and for a longtime.
Jason's verdict : Sean needs to concentrate more on dancing and presentation. There was great synchronisation.

Gaynor and Daniel fdancing to 'You're Beautiful'
Total score: 15.5/30

Nicky's verdict: I loved the intimacy at the start. What was missing was you looking relaxed. Trust him more.
Chris's verdict: You did have slips , but the connection was terrific.

Stefan and Kristina dancing to 'Young Hearts Run Free'
Total score: 17.5/30

Robin's verdict: I did enjoy it very much. But with that exuberance, you have to keep the focus.
Jason's verdict: It kind of reminded me of the geek at the office Christmas party. Stefan has trouble with coordination.

Bonnie and Matt dancing to 'Mad About The Boy'
Total score: 21.5/30

Krez's verdict: I was dazzled. I loved the chemistry.
Karen's verdict: In the air she's fantastic, but we need to work more on Bonnie's feet.

Tamara and Andy dancing to 'I Love to Boogie'
Total score: 11.0/30

Jason's verdict: You turned into a telly-tubby out there. I was nervous for you.
Robin's verdict: The effort was there. I'm afraid he's playing catch-up.

Andrea and Doug dancing to 'Crazy in Love'
Total score: 16.5/30

Jason's verdict: Andrea looks beautiful, but at times she looks a little bit wooden.
Karen's verdict: I really enjoyed the routine, I though it was fantastic.

David and Pam dancing to 'Wild Thing'
Total score: 16.0/30

Nicky's verdict: Stand up, give it out, and be a showman.
Krez's verdict: He's a big man - I'm amazed he's doing what he's doing.

Sergey and Tamara dancing to 'Get The Party Started'
Total score: 13.5/30

Robin's verdict: You've got all the ingredients of being a great showgirl. But you were more plodding than skating.
Jason's verdict: I am surprised: you're known as an 'IT' girl, and they don't do much. But I'm impressed.

Olga and John dancing to Beethoven
Total score: 21.0/30

Krez's verdict: That was stunning. You've got great charisma together.
Karen's verdict: I felt as though I was watching a complete partnership.


Kelly and Todd dancing to 'Hit Me Baby One More Time'
Total score: 14.5/30

Nicky's verdict: Your basic skating is weak and it wouldn't be fair to put you above the better skaters.
Robin's verdict: Don't attack the ice like you attack the track. Think of it as a long distance run.

itv

Andi Peters out!

He stooped to conquer, but fell out of favour with the judges, and tonight Andi Peters crashed out of the competition.

The standard on the ice tonight was so hot that we were risking a meltdown within minutes, but as much as it pained us, we had to lose yet another skilled skater in the build up to the frosty finale and the revered Bolero that lies in wait.

And having faced poppy-peppered duo Stefan and Kristina in the nail-biting skate off following your votes, the judges’ final verdict hit Andi hard.

Although not as hard as the ice itself when it rose up to greet his brave behind during the opening moments of the show!

But whilst we mourn for Andi and his unanimous downfall at the hands of the judges, it’s fair to say that he was pitted against some tough competition in Stefan and Kristina.

And who could rival a Moon Walk opening, Carry Lift and break dance finale?

Well, you’d be hard pushed to catch John Barrowman and partner Olga, who passed tonight’s test with flying rainbow colours with their jaunty romp through “Is this the Way to Amarillo?”

It was “match day” for David Seaman, who did his Mrs proud with a passionate performance to Phil Collins’ “A Groovy Kind of Love,” the song they first danced to at their wedding!

But the biggest stir was created by Bonnie Langford and partner Matt, who dazzled us all silly with Helicopter Rotations and quick-fire foot-work galore.

So as they slither off to lay up their limbs before another gruelling week of new routines, we’re left to ponder the pickings and marvel at the progress our celebs have made just two weeks into their journey.

They’ll be giving Jayne and Chris a run for their money at this rate!
ITV

Kelly judge on thin ice
Sun

Judge Jason Exclusive!

“I stand by all the comments I’ve made,” Jason told us, as we bravely squared up to him in defence of our dancers.

As the frost settled on the riotous rink we like to call home last Saturday, it seemed it wasn’t just the ice that needed smoothing over.

Yes, we all watched (and winced) as judge Jason wielded heavy-handed critiques at some of our more sensitive skaters, dubbing Dame Kelly Holmes something similar to “a man in drag,” and warning wintry weathergirl Andrea against the dangers of too much botox.

But in the aftermath of these comments, and in the build up to another chilling instalment, we thought it was high-time someone heard the man out and let him tell his side of the story.

“If they have outraged or offended people that was never my intention,” Jason declared outright.

“My intention was to call it as I see it.

“When you actually pull apart what I’ve said and the way in which I delivered my critique you realise that actually no, I didn’t say she is a man in drag, I said that is she doesn’t soften her lines, because of her physicality, she runs the risk of looking like a man in drag, and that’s perfectly valid.”

And once we had that part sorted, we thought it was time to give our generous judge a chance to enthuse over his favourite moments of the show so far.

“I don’t think there has been a best moment yet,” he sighs. “I’m still waiting for that to happen.

“I think we’ve almost weeded out the tragedies.”

“Almost.

“Let’s face it, we will now start to see a real break away from those who are really committed and who are improving.”

And with the routines getting riskier and the skaters getting more skilful, who does he think will come up trumps in tonight’s shimmering showdown?

“Somebody who can take it on the chin and come back and prove me wrong,” he reveals.

“I would love that.

“I would love to sit down tonight and Dame Kelly is as graceful and elegant as a swan, and she’s moving beautifully and softly, and that Andrea’s leg line has improved and she’s using her face more.

“Those things would make me so happy.”
ITV

Weathergirl voted off ice gala show

Weathergirl Andrea McLean became the latest celebrity to exit ITV's Dancing on Ice contest.

The GMTV presenter was the third star to be voted off the show after failing to win the judges' votes following a skate-off against rival Stefan Booth.

Andrea and her skating partner Doug Webster lost out to the actor by four votes to one.

After the result was announced Andrea said she thought she had given her best dance of the competition.

"What an amazing experience. All I can say is if I was going to go I'm glad it was tonight," she said.

Wearing a short, red, sequinned dress she added: "I think I have skated the best I have done. I really felt the music tonight. It's a shame, I would have liked to have carried on but what a way to go."

In an apparent attempt to make amends for comments he made to Dame Kelly Holmes last week, judge Jason Gardiner said he believed she had given one of the best performances of the series so far.

Kelly was visibly angered last week when he likened her to a drag queen.

"You have come out here tonight and I think you have done one of the best performances so far," he told the Olympic gold medalist.

Seven celebrities remain in the show competing to be crowned Britain's new ice sensation. wanadoo

‘I knew it was farewell’

Having breathed a hefty sigh after Saturday’s exit, our elegant Andrea reminisces about romance, rifts, broken ribs and runny noses!

Yes, we were all swept away by the emotional performance that Andrea and Doug treated us to before their departure on Saturday, but according to the lady herself, the atmosphere on the ice was actually far from rosie!

“Doug came down with tonsillitis and I have a stinking cold,” Andrea told us recently.

“It sounds utterly revolting, but as we were spinning round, he was feeling terrible and on the last turn my nose started to run so when I rested my head on his chest in the very last moment, I had to give a massive sniff and hope that no one could hear it!

“It was the most unromantic moment of all time – Doug with tonsillitis and me with a sore rib and a runny nose leaving a great big wet patch on his shirt!”

Ah, such a beautiful moment! But whilst GMTV’s glorious weathergirl can joke with us now, there’s no denying the sentimentality of their glittering performance on the night.

When quizzed by Philip after their stint in the skate-off, Andrea admitted that she was close to tears, whilst a clearly emotional Doug described how their Eva Cassidy inspired number “broke his heart.”

And Andrea is in no doubt as to why that was.

“I just knew in my heart of hearts that this was going to be our last dance. I could feel that it was going to be our last performance and it just felt like a farewell dance to be honest.

“I was just saying goodbye to Doug. It was a very poignant moment.”

But it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the passionate pair, and early on it was difficult not to catch wind of the training trysts and palpable tension between the weather pro and skating champ.

“I think it’s completely normal,” Andrea admits.

“If you take one person who’s an expert at something, add a novice and throw them into the ring and say get on with it, then of course there are going to be moments of, ‘Why can’t you do it right?’ “Because I’m not a skater, that’s why!”

“But we worked through them and we learnt how to deal with that sort of thing.

“It did become real brother and sister stuff, where he’d snap at me and I’d snap back and it’d be solved in a second.

“It’s one of the things that has been such a learning experience for me. I’ve learnt that it’s not such a bad thing to stand your ground and say ‘Back off!’"

But now that their icecapades together are over, Andrea can be left to her early mornings at GMTV in peace, safe in the knowledge that a five hour stint on the rink will not be awaiting her when she breezes off the air!

“I’ll never moan about that again!” she laughs.

“Now that I’ve managed to cram in all of this, plus running the house and being a mum, my goodness it’s going to seem like a piece of cake!” ITV

JUDGE JASON'S VERDICT


Ever y week Dancing On Ice's most outspoken judge, acid Aussie Jason Gardiner, will be giving us his noholds- barred verdicts on the remaining contestants...

KELLY HOLMES

I NEVER said she looked like a man in drag. I just said she ran the risk of looking like one if she doesn't soften up a bit. She'll never be a graceful swan.

STEFAN BOOTH

THE most awkward and unpredictable contestant left. We're trying to get rid of the tragic cases and he's one of them. I think he'll go tonight.

JOHN BARROWMAN


HE'S a wonderful showman, one of my favourites to reach the final. Last week he fell on his arse. I can't believe the others gave him such high marks.

GAYNORFAYE

A QUIET achiever. She doesn't dance with razzledazzle, but she has a beautiful relationship with Daniel. Watching her makes my heart melt.

SEAN WILSON

ONE of the best - he has complete command. But he has to stop clinging on to this ridiculous idea that he can't lift Marika up. It's all about timing.

DAVID SEAMAN

I FEEL for him now Pam's dislocated her shoulder - a real setback. At first I thought he looked like Homer Simpson on ice, but now he's more a gentle giant.

BONNIELANGFORD

ABSOLUTELY brilliant. Despite being the oldest and a busy mum she's doing amazingly death-defying routines. She pushes herself the hardest - a potential winner. Mirror

Barrowman bows out!

In a shocking and highly emotive turn of events, the king of the ice has just left the building.

This show has blown us away with every second of its traumatic training trysts, terrific technical feats and highly charged, passionate performances.

But tonight’s departure of “born showman Barrowman” totally took the biscuit!

In the first themed evening since the show began, our sequin-smeared celebrities took to the ice alongside Torvill and Dean to open the Las Vegas show with a breath-taking full company spectacle.

And gleaming with glamour and that trademark show-stopping grin, you could almost place John Barrowman at the centre of the scene in his Elvis-esque flares.

But after a dramatic evening that saw both skilful skaters deliver less than their usual plucky performances, your votes ensured that John joined seasoned pro Stefan in the nerve-racking skate off.

Both men skated their hearts out, and according to Chris, both bettered their earlier performances as the pressure mounted to stay in the competition.

And if our hearts were in our mouths during the judges’ verdicts, imagine standing in the skates of those boys as the votes reached neck and neck with just Robin to go!

“I’m saving Stefan,” said Nicky.

“Stefan!” cried Krez.

“John,” croaked a visibly emotional Karen, after Jason had also opted to keep John in the game for next week’s dance.

But despite a sterling performance from his competitor and pal, who could have predicted that the leader of the pack so far would fall from grace so frighteningly fast?

“I think Olga and I worked hard,” a magnanimous John gasped as he was bedecked with his bouquet.

“It’s the name of the game. Someone’s got to lose.”

So while John comes back down to earth and comes to terms with this heart-stopping showdown, keep your eyes peeled for our exclusive chat with the man himself. ITV