Finally! Dancing on Ice 2021 kicked off on Sunday 17th January with an opening group number showing the professionals skateless and dancing off ice like the rest of us before culminating in the studio with rainbows aplenty no doubt in tribute to those risking their lives on the front line of the pandemic. Like all of this year’s pro numbers, the opener was pre-recorded late last year and what a treat it was to see Torvill and Dean back together doing what they do best.
This year the judges desk is slightly enlarged but more noticeable is are the perspex dividers separating them all, Jayne and Chris included. While we’ve grown used to seeing Holly and Phil standing apart on ITV’s This Morning, after decades together it really is a sign of the times that Britain’s most beloved Winter Olympians can no longer even touch.
So to the skaters themselves. With longer to prepare than ever before, and many competitors with little else to occupy there time, it is perhaps unsurprising that the current crop seem determined to out perform those that have gone before. A few months ago I wrote a couple of pieces predicting how they may fair and it’s safe to say that already a number have surprised me. However, Jason Donovan who opened the show I am sad to say did not. As I’ve mentioned before, being born in the year of Bolero, the Aussie singer was my very first crush. In fact, to my knowledge I still have his board game somewhere in my parents loft! However, despite still being somewhat more steady than many in previous openers it was clear he had the least natural balance on the ice and my initial prediction of a mid to low table finish seems pretty well spot on.
My previously baseless hopes for Joe-Warren Plant were given some base in reality. Although being the only celeb to actually fall did also back up my previous thoughts that he also had the potential to become Bambi on ice. Skating alongside the ever successful Vanessa Bauer, the Emmerdale star put in a gutsy, fast-paced performance and was clearly having the time of his life. The fall was unfortunate (particularly given he’d already mastered far trickier moves without fault) but if he reigns in his energy a tad my early prediction of him reaching the final seems rather likely at this stage.
Next up on the ice was former Big-Breakfast presenter Denise Van Outen alongside professional skater and fan favourite, Matt Evers. After a nasty fall earlier in the week left Denise with a dislocated shoulder (as well as some later discovered breaks) necessitated a hastily re-choreographed number. White DVO’s natural performance skills were evident sadly so was her pain. I had eyed Denise up as a potential winner but sadly it has been announced today that the injury has forced her and Matt to withdraw from this year’s competition. One hopes that her and Matt will be allowed to return next year, especially given competing in the show is pretty much the only way for most folk to be allowed on the ice at the moment.
Lady Leshurr was certainly the most suprising star of the night. Having only come across the rapper on Celebrity Masterchef, i wasn’t expecting a lot. However, her and Brendyn’s routine was one of my favourite’s of the night and despite being saved by the judges following the skate off this week, it remains a travesty that they were put in that position in the first place.
Whilst comedian Rufus Hound’s Mario brother’s inspired routine was certainly a favourite in the room, and his gratitude at being given the judge’s golden ticket through to musicals week was genuine and touching, it simply didn’t light me up as much as the others. It was however impressive to learn that such a newbie had been so instrumental in styling and choreographing his first number. My early prediction that he would face the skate off along with Rebekah was clearly wrong and in both cases, correctly so.
Speaking of Rebekah Vardy – wow! I said in my predictions post that I hate that DOI contestants often fail to progress or progress beyond merit based on off ice reasoning so I was delighted that after such a brilliant performance sufficient viewers rewarded the WAG with a place in Musicals week. Not only did Rebekah manage to skate at a fairly decent pace (a bug bear of mine) for someone not from a performing background, I thought her presentation was a delight. It was clear she was nervous and lacked confidence, properly due in no small part to the public’s perception of her but her natural ability really means that she really ought not to. While I had believed she was a sure for an early exit, providing she keeps on progressing as she clearly has, there is every chance she may well go far.
In both week 1 and week 2 we were treat to pre-recorded pro-numbers featuring the new professionals including Karina Mantras and Joe Johnson, both of whom it’s safe to say I am pretty much obsessed with. The pair simply ooze style and bring grit and grunge to the ice.
My only bug bear with week 1 was the 32 minutes of the 2 hour show spent on ad breaks. While I appreciate the show relies on advertising revenue and neither Torvill nor Dean are responsible for the decision or placing of said breaks, having an ad break after every couple was not only infuriating but it did also seem that we missed out on following the skaters journeys in as much detail as previous years. This may be in part because unlike the last series we hadn’t been treat to a Christmas special.
Opening week 2, Colin Jackson was steady(ish) but I’m afraid to say rather forgettable. My prediction of an early exit may still be true as though certainly not one of the worst 3 or 4 will need to add more umph to his skate if he’s to avoid getting lost in the crowd.
Billie Shepherd and Mark Hanretty proved again why my early predictions came with the warning they had been based on not a lot. For years I’d baselessly thought Billie might make a good skater. Visably nervous and lacking performance they were pretty much the weakest in an unusually strong field. Mark is one of my favourite pros and I’d love to seem him go far this year but while the TOWIE star’s fans may have kept her from the skate off this week it was certainly undeserved.
Next up was perhaps the biggest shock to many of the evening. While having predicted a mid-table finish for Olympic skier Graham Bell initially, having been impressed with what I’d seen on his instagram feed I was already suspecting I should have been more generous. Despite a last minute change of partner following Yebin Mok’s nasty injury in training, the Ski Sunday presenter’s gold lame ski suit was not the only this to bring sparkle to the rink. His skating was fast without unnecessary fury, fun, packed with tricks and demonstrated real showman ship. From what we’ve seen so far i am confident that he and Joe-Warren will be the last male celebs standing, which having placed an early bet on him for the crown I’m rather pleased about.
Sonny-Jay delivered a solid performance alongside Scottish skater Angela Egan. His performance while impressive was rather lost in the evening and I was surprised but happy for him that his talent was rewarded with the final gold ticket from the judges. Not being a listener of Capital Radio, it would have been a shame for him to risk an early departure after demonstrating real potential. He has a little bit to go to usurp Joe-Warren and Graham but it certainly doesn’t seem impossible at this stage.
I’ve no idea really why I had assumed Myleene Klass would be a semi-finalist or better but it was clear from the earliest moments of her performance that this was not going to be the case. The former Hearsay vocalist, mentioned in her VT that both of her daughters are regulars at the rink and she had agreed to take part in order to avoid just being another Mum at the rink. While it’s arguable that Billie ought to have been in the skate-off instead, it was clear that her of Jason would be favourites to leave in musicals week had she made it that far. It’s a real shame as I feel Lukasz has yet to be rewarded with a partner who can really showcase his talents.
Hamish Gaman! After such a painfully unfair exit from last years competition many of us had hoped the British skater would be rewarded not only with a talented partner but most of all with someone deserving of his patience and kindness. Thankfully, we seem to have got our wish. Faye Brookes not only came across as deeply pleasant and keen to learn but delivered probably the best opening skate of any series. If she is to become the female Ray Quinn it is no less than our Hamish deserves.
Over all both shows delivered exactly what we wanted right now; glitz, tricks, stumbles, struggles and rising stars. Cut the ad breaks a bit and this year looks set to be a corker!
White Skates 