The rink heats up for Dancing on Ice stars

We’re all in need of a lift at the moment, so when the 13th series of Dancing on Ice debuted to much fanfare last weekend, millions of fans rejoiced.

And one person involved in the hit show who appears to be in extra need of a tonic at the moment is host Holly Willoughby.

After returning to her other role presenting This Morning following an extended Christmas and New Year break two weeks ago, the tired mum-of-three admitted to being “just about holding on”.

However, she has perked up in the fortnight since – perhaps out of excitement that she will finally be able to get her glad rags on again for Dancing on Ice.

“The best thing is just getting dressed in a proper frock!” she said about the show’s return.

“Naturally I get dressed for This Morning and I’m not in my pyjamas all day but this is something special.

“I always look forward to when Dancing on Ice comes around because it’s like getting ready for your wedding day every Sunday.

“I just love it. It’s fun and with the girls I work with we’re already plotting outfits and looks and it’s just lovely. It’s a nice feeling.”

In last week’s first show, Holly and her co-host Phillip Schofield welcomed Jason Donovan, Joe-Warren Plant, Denise Van Outen, Graham Bell, Lady Leshurr and Rebekah Vardy to the rink for the first time.

Tonight, the remaining half a dozen celeb skaters and their partners compete, and will all be aiming to prove that they are capable of succeeding 2020 champion Joe Swash and being named the 2021 king or queen of the ice.

We will see Olympian Colin Jackson and his partner Klabera Komini; TV personality Billie Shepherd and Mark Hanretty; actor and comedian Rufus Hound and Robin Johnstone; Capital Radio DJ Sonny Jay and Angela Egan; musician and presenter Myleene Klass and Lukasz Różycki; and actress Faye Brookes and Hamish Gaman all make their debuts.

After each couple has performed, the pair at the foot of the table will compete against last week’s bottom pair in the Skate Off as they look to avoid the first elimination.

In a twist this series, judges Jane Torvill, Christopher Dean, John Barrowman and Ashley Banjo now have the power to award their newly created Golden Ticket.

In the first two weeks, the judges will be able to put one couple per week straight through to the third live show – Musicals Week – so they avoid the first elimination.

So who has caught the judges eye in rehearsals so far?

“There are one or two really,” Jane reveals. “Initially Graham Bell is looking very strong, Colin Jackson too, Joe-Warren Plant looks really strong.

“What I feel is that a lot of people are enjoying it. For example, Sonny Jay has always got a smile on his face and clearly loves it.”

John, on the other hand, believes that some of the seasoned showbiz performers are the ones to beat.

“I’m expecting a lot from Jason Donovan, a lot from Denise Van Outen, I’m particularly expecting a lot from Myleene Klass,” he says.

“Myleene used to be my TV wife and I was her TV husband back in the day as we presented alongside each other on a few TV shows.

“With Jason, Denise and Myleene, particularly, as entertainers and performers and I want to see them perform to the hilt.”

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