Dancing On Ice stars respond to having ‘unfair advantage’ after first skate is revealed
DANCING On Ice stars Michelle Heaton and Nile Wilson have responded to claims that contestants with dance experience have an unfair advantage in the rink.
The ITV show has been criticised in the past over some contestants having a history of dance and performing careers.
Ahead of its 2023 launch on Sunday, Liberty X star Michelle, 43, and Olympic gymnast Nile, 26, were asked if their careers gave them a head start in the competition.
Nile, who will be doing his first skate to Sign Of The Times by Harry Styles with Oliva Smart, said: “There’s a lot of elements to the performance.
“For me it’s really difficult expressing emotion in a performance because in gymnastics I was creating art with my body, not my face.
“They keep saying, ‘smile with your eyes!’ And I’m like, ‘what the hell does that mean?’ Because I’m concentrating on what I’m doing, my eyes are wide open, and my mouth.
“So I don’t think it’s necessarily an advantage because being able to tell a story with the music, and to be intimate with the partner, and do a dance and do something with the arms that connect with the feet. That’s been a challenge.”
Michelle added: “I’m the opposite.
“My face, I can smile my way through it but my feet are trying to catch up!”
Ex Strictly pro Brendan Cole and pop star Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls reached the final of the 2022 competition.
Professional dancer Regan Gascoigne, who is Paul Gascoigne’s son, won the series.
And fans fumed that all three finalists had dance experience, including Strictly’s Brendan Cole.
This year’s line-up also includes drag queen and TV personality The Vivienne, actress and DJ Patsy Palmer, The Wanted star Siva Kaneswaran, and former footballer John Fashanu.
Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu, Coronation Street’s Mollie Gallagher, Towie star Joey Essex, comedian Darren Harriott and Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson are also among the contestants.
Dancing On Ice begins on January 15 at 6.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
