Dancing on Ice talks to Whatsonstage Northeast
March 16, 2008
Whatsonstage Northeast had the opportunity to catch up with the Dancing on Ice starts as they prepared not only for the TV Final but to start there live tour.
We wondered what ice skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean first thought about the idea for teaching a bunch of celebrities how to skate in front of the viewing millions at home, they were frankly sceptical. ‘It was a gamble,’ says Chris. ‘We worried that people might fall flat on their faces. Quite literally.’
We now know those fears proved unfounded. As all the world now knows, Dancing On Ice has become one of television’s biggest hits in recent years, the current ITV series attracting an audience in excess of ten million viewers. ‘We knew from quite early on,’ says Jayne, ‘that we’d struck a chord with the public because the demand for tickets to attend the live show dramatically outstripped the supply. The studio holds not much more than 300 people and we had thousands of applications.’
This success led to the second gamble. ‘Jayne and I started talking and we decided to go to promoter Phil McIntyre with the idea of taking the basic concept of the show out on the road to some of the UK’s largest ice skating arenas. But while we knew the TV show was popular, we couldn’t be sure that we’d fill auditoriums that held up to 10,000 people.’
But they need not have worried. The first Dancing On Ice tour took place last year almost immediately after the TV series ended with rugby player Kyran Bracken crowned the ultimate winner. Kyran’s going to be involved again this year when the 2008 tour opens in Sheffield on April 4 and then moves on to Nottingham, Newcastle, Birmingham, Wembley, the O2 Arena in Docklands and Liverpool, finally finishing in Manchester on May 8.
The format will not be dissimilar from the TV show with the audience texting their choice of celebrity skater and partner, culminating in the final showdown between two couples each dancing their interpretation of Torvill and Dean’s famous Bolero. Then it’s down to the judges to choose the winner on that occasion. Last year, Bonnie Langford – again part of the action this year – won more times than any other celebrity taking part and was presented with an overall winner’s trophy at the completion of the tour.
Clare Buckfield and David Seaman, both popular participants from previous Dancing On Ice TV series, will also be strutting their stuff, joined this time by Chris Fountain, Suzanne Shaw, Gareth Gates, Zaraah Abrahams and Linda Lusardi, each of whom reached the final six in this year’s televised competition.
For Gareth, the whole experience has been life-changing, he says. ‘To be honest, when I was first approached to take part in the TV show, I wasn’t too keen on the idea. I wasn’t sure I was up to the challenge. But my life has always been about taking on new challenges and learning new skills. And I’m so pleased I said yes. I feel like I’ve been on the most fantastic journey. Imagine being on the ice each day and having Torvill and Dean as your instructors. They’re skating royalty.’
What’s more, you can forget all those tabloid tales of seething tensions behind the scenes, says Gareth. ‘They’re complete rubbish. One of the very best elements about being caught up in this show – and now the tour – is that we’re all in it together. And that’s a very binding experience. This will sound corny but it’s true: we’re like a family. The atmosphere’s great. Of course there are nerves but no tension between us whatsoever.’
Gareth, unlike some of the other celebrities, should be well-placed, says Jayne Torvill, to adjust to the sheer volume of spectators and the deafening roar they make once the show hits the road. ‘You’ve never seen or heard anything like it. There are people with banners, people with T-shirts emblazoned with their favourite’s name. And the noise… It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard!’
Chris Dean agrees. ‘Last year, Duncan James, for instance, took it all in his stride. But then he’d been part of the Blue boy band so he’d played these vast arenas. Gareth will be the same. It’s more difficult to adjust, though, for an actress who’s used to working only in front of TV cameras. But it doesn’t take long for everyone to respond to the adrenalin rush you feel from those huge audiences.’
Chris Fountain may be in peak condition but, at 20, he has youth on his side.
Chris is excited by the prospect of going on Tour mostly because there will be so many more people watching and he’ll experience the noise of an arena audience for the first time. ‘ I wanted to do the Tour because I didn’t want my skating to stop – I can’t compete as an ice dancer but it’s something I love doing; The Tour means I can carry on skating which makes me happy.’
Jayne and Chris are the first to admit that returning to the rink eight years after they retired in 1998 was a bit of a shock to the system. ‘Doing the TV show and now the tour,’ says Jayne, ‘means that I’m fitter than I’ve been for a long time but there are still things that the body won’t do.’ Chris chimes in. ‘The trouble is,’ he says, ‘that our minds still think we’re 20.’
Linda Lusardi will be 50 in September, hard to believe as she glides round the rink, forever the glamorous Page 3 girl. ‘I had a superb teacher in Dan Whiston, though,’ she says. ‘I can’t praise him highly enough. He never got ratty with me. He’s been so supportive – and he’s so funny, too. I’m always nervous just before we enter the rink but Dan whispers something in my ear which never fails to make me smile. I can’t tell you what it is because it’s too rude. But I will tell you this: it does the trick every time.’
Clearly, this is something of a mutual admiration society. ‘Linda’s a legend,’ says Daniel. ‘I couldn’t believe it when I found out I’d been paired with her. Now I just can’t wait to go on tour with her. It’s the most amazing experience. It’s a massive production: not just the competitive element but the group routines, the solo spots, the speciality acts. It’s a stupendous evening out. You feel like a rock star when you’re out there. The atmosphere’s electric. By the time you get off the ice, you’re absolutely buzzing. You feel like a rock star.’
Each couple trains every day, the difference being that they’re not having to learn a new routine every week. ‘By the end of the tour,’ he says, ‘Linda’s going to be a very good skater indeed and she’s going to be especially good at our particular number. Everyone should come to see this show. It’ll blow their socks off.’
The audience will also notice just how trim and toned each celebrity has become. ‘I’ve dropped at least one dress size since I started with Dancing On Ice. I’m now a Size 8,’ says Linda. ‘And you should see her bum,’ says cheeky Daniel. ‘Now it looks good in absolutely everything!’
Whatsonstage North East are looking forward to reviewing the show during its run at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, where tickets are still available
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