Stephen Gately has admitted in an exclusive interview with The Sun that he was so nervous last week before skating that he downed half a bottle of whiskey in a bid to calm himself.

He stated: “Before I went on I had half a bottle of whiskey and eight calming tablets.

“If anybody had had half a Valium I’d have had that too!

“I was so nervous. I’m used to crowds and that’s second nature, but that’s because I know how to sing. I don’t know how to skate.

“It kind of took me by surprise how frightened I was and I can’t say I actually enjoyed the performance, I looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights!

“But hopefully I won’t be as bad this week. I really enjoy rehearsals so I just need to conquer my fear of the audience.�

Maybe that explains how he ended up in the bottom three.