Dancing On Ice 2008: Suzanne Shaw

TV personality and singer Suzanne Shaw, 26, was a huge fan of Dancing On Ice last year and is thrilled to be competing this time
around. Confessing that she has only stepped onto the ice a handful of times in her entire life she has already decided that she never wants to stop.

“I’m loving every second of ice skating. I absolutely love it. I want to do it for the rest of my life. I now want to be an ice skater.”

Despite a slight injury, Suzanne has been looking after herself and making sure she is keeping fit by going to the gym regularly and
cutting out her beloved chocolate and beer.

“At the moment I’m probably average.Not average as in pro-average, average as in average. I think I’m doing well.There are certain things that I do struggle with but there are other things that are my stronger points,” explains Suzanne.

“It’s a hell of a lot harder than I thought it would be and I think that’s purely because the pros make it look so easy. Everyone is going to bring something different to the skating rink and it’s hard to tell who will be my main rival because I haven’t actually seen many people skate.”

She is putting all her trust in partner Matt who last series was partnered with Lisa Scott-Lee,and Bonnie Langford in series one.

“I love him – he’s brilliant. I really really enjoy working with him. He’s fab! Matt just takes me on a high.”

Famous for his dangerous and daring moves, especially the ‘head banger’, Matt and Suzanne are working on another impressive move for her first routine.

“We’ve not tried the head banger yet but we are working on something called ‘the death spiral.’When Matt first said,‘we’re going to try the death spiral’ today,’ I was like ‘what?’ But I’m making that my signature move at the moment.”

Suzanne fondly remembers her hero Christopher Dean and has already practiced with the Olympic gold medallist.

“I went to fall over and he picked me up and flung me in the air and I was glancing into his eyes and then he let me go and I went and smashed myself into the barrier. It was the most amazing moment ever. I was like ‘wow!’ and it all went in slow motion and I felt like I was Jane Torvill.”

The TV star can’t wait to get into the competition and for her young son Corey to come and watch her.

“I’m looking forward to learning my routines to the music and also I can’t wait for my son to come down and see me do it because he’s now started ice skating lessons and he comes to watch me. So I can’t wait to get him to a live show and watch his mummy skating around on the stage because he loves it, he’s in love with ice skating.”

Celebrities supporting Suzanne include King of the I’m A Celebrity jungle Christopher Biggins and ex Hear’Say band mate Myleene Klass.

“Myleene is already trying to find out the number to vote for me on and she’s going to come down with Susie t-shirts on.”

She admits that she would like to win the competition but is feeling nervous.

“I know it sounds like a real cliché, but of course I’d love to win the show, everybody would.You wouldn’t enter the competition if you didn’t want to win it but I’m really here to enjoy myself. I love dancing on the ice, I love dancing with Matt and I love performing with the music. I’m just enjoying it and if I start taking the competition too seriously then I won’t enjoy it. I’ll just get really anxious and really – it’ll just make my nerves go even higher so my aim’s just to really enjoy the show.

“I’m dreading the nerves on the night of the live shows because at the moment I’ve been fine, but I think when the nerves kick in you become a totally different performer and skater altogether so it’s getting to grips with that really and I can’t wait.”