Matthew Wolfenden topped the leaderboard on last night’s Dancing On Ice live show and already, the former Emmerdale star is the bookies’ red hot 5/4 favourite to win the 2012 series.

Even at this early stage, the actor looks very hard to beat, though other William Hill have listed contenders including Jorgie Porter at 5/2, Chico at 8/1 and Chemmie Alcott a 9/2 shot.

“Wolfenden was astonishingly good and I cannot think of any Dancer/Skater who has blown away the opposition so impressively on day one,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.

It was reported earlier today that Matthew bared his bum during the dress rehearsal for last night’s show, after his leather trousers fell down as he had lost so much weight!

We so wish we had been there to see that!