Ice stars just glide to glory
Stars from the hit television series Dancing On Ice have continued to wow audiences across the country with their live tour, which finally came to Nottingham’s Capital FM arena.
This year’s line-up included the current reigning champions, Matthew Wolfenden and partner Nina Ulanova as well as fellow 2012 contestants Jorgie Porter, Chico, Jennifer Ellison, Chemmy Alcott, who was Britain’s number one skier for a record seven years, Coronation Street’s Andy Whyment, Sugababe Heidi Range and 2011 winner Sam Attewater.
The evening’s hosts were the dynamic duo themselves, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who delighted in being back at the birthplace of the Bolero, which earned them their place in skating history nearly three decades ago.
The ice panel comprised former Olympian Karen Barber, series two champion Kyran Bracken, who performed a stunning routine later in the show, and actor Christopher Biggins, whose infectious personality livened up an already electric evening.
The opening group routine to Lady Gaga’s Edge Of Glory was a real crowd pleaser, and put the audience on the edge of their seats as the professional skaters, including T&D, performed intricate moves and heart-stopping lifts.
All the celebrity routines were polished and very well presented, particularly the series’ finalists Jorgie Porter and Matthew Wolfenden, who were awarded near perfect scores as expected.
Other contestants also impressed, including Chemmy Alcott and Andy Whyment as they fed off the buzz from the enthusiastic audience.
However, nothing could prepare the audience for Chico, who strutted across the ice in nothing but a pair of tight zebra-print trousers — dancing to Sexy And I Know It.
Until that night, I never knew pectoral muscles and bottoms, could be manipulated in such a way.
Five celebrities were voted through to skate again by a text vote — with the top two performing Bolero at the end of the show.
In between, the audience were treated to gravity-defying routines from the professionals and of course T&D who reduced the crowds to complete silence as they performed a mesmerising routine to Christina Perri’s Jar Of Hearts.
Dressed in red, white and blue, the pair later toasted the Olympic Games with a performance to Proud, by Heather Small, the official song being used to promote London 2012.
As expected, Matthew Wolfenden and Jorgie Porter were the chosen stars to perform Bolero. Both routines were faultless, but Matthew skated away victorious and took the trophy once again.
It was a fantastic night, which I couldn’t score anything less than a perfect ten. — LB.
