Dancing On Ice Tour
by Evening Chronicle
FOR those of us old enough to remember, it seems incredible that it is 25 years since Torvill and Dean won gold at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
Their Bolero routine has been the benchmark for all ice dance competitions ever since.
It is also a highlight of the hugely popular Dancing On Ice TV series, the tour of which comes to Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
A host of celebrities will be joining Torvill and Dean for the shows, including Kyran Bracken, Todd Carty,
Melinda Messenger, Roxanne Pallett, current champion Ray Quinn, Zoe Salmon, Suzanne Shaw and Jessica Taylor.
“I think the standard this year was far higher than any other year, particularly for the guys. No disrespect to the previous fellas, but this year’s lot were fantastic,” Melinda says. The former glamour model braced herself for criticism from the judges during the competition.
“The relief I’ve gotten through it was enough to anaesthetise any pain that I would feel from the judges’ comments.
“But otherwise it was all fair game, that’s what we put ourselves up there for ,” she added.
Injury is what most contestants fear the most. Former Liberty X member Jessica Taylor explains: “I was in floods of tears when I had a really bad fall because I’m a bit of a softie really. I thought I’d probably cry but it was a pretty bad fall.”
Former X Factor contestant Ray Quinn has even acquired what he calls a “skater’s bum”.
“Your jeans get tight around your legs, they’re like skinny jeans now,” he says proudly.”
All celebrities were trained and choreographed by Torvill and Dean, who will perform several of their favourite routines at each performance. Olympic gold medal winner Robin Cousins will lead the panel of rink-side judges who will critique their performances.
Q&A with Suzanne Shaw
KAREN WILSON posed former Dancing On Ice champion SUZANNE SHAW some questions
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? I worked for three days at a paper factory, which made school books. I’ve never had so many paper cuts.
Have you ever been mistaken for another celebrity? Yes. On the Dancing on Ice tour whenever anyone blonde comes out like Zoe Ball or Melinda Messenger.
Who are your top five fantasy dinner party guests? Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, the Queen, Robert Downey Junior because he’s gorgeous and Melinda Messenger, because she’s here with me now!
If you could be someone else for the day who would it be? I’d be a man to understand the way they think.
Have you had any bizarre gifts from fans? Someone once brought me a bag full of Abba-style clothes.
How would your friends describe yourself in three words? Mad, generous and stressed.
What would you put into Room 101? An ex boyfriend!
Do you have any tattoos? I’ve got two. One on my stomach that symbolises strength and one on my back of a Buddhist star.
What are you most proud of? My son Corey.
A full version of this interview appears in the May issue of City Living magazine, available from April 24.
