Linda Lusardi has skated for the last time on ITV1’s TV show, Dancing On Ice.

Linda ended up in the bottom two tonight along with Coronation Street’s Zaarah, but predictable, all the judges voted to let Linda leave.

On hearing the news, Linda Lusardi said: “I’ve had a ball I really have. It had to end one night, and it was tonight!”

I was sad to see the back of Linda. She was never the most talented skaters on the show, not even close, but she and her partner Daniel had the most amazing chemistry. Linda obviously really loved taking part in the. show, and she put her heart and soul into each performance. I would actually rather watch her fumble about the ice, with her big cheesy smile, than watch Chris Fountain do his triple diple axle with his cocky grin stretching from ear to ear.

Former page three model, Linda Lusardi has spoken out about the fact that she is one of the oldest people competing in this years Dancing On Ice competition.

Speaking to The Sun, Linda says: “I don’t even think about being older than most of the others on the show. I don’t feel 49, I feel 21!

“When I went for the show medical I was a bit worried about my age. But they reassured me that my fitness levels were better than some of the younger ones.

“And as for looking older than them, I don’t care, I just put on my glitter and get on with it.

“I love the glitz and sparkle of the programme. During the week you’re so unglamorous, practising at a freezing rink in tracky bottoms. But when it comes to the weekend and you try on your spangly costume, you get really into it.

Emmerdale actress Linda Lusardi, 49, is ecstatic to be in Dancing On Ice after a fall nearly had her out of the competition before it had even begun.

“I was in training, stepping backwards on the ice when I landed on my ankle, fracturing a bone,” she explains. “I didn’t realise a fracture was a break, and so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to carry on in the show. Luckily it was very minor and because of the place in which I’ve done it, it’s healed very well. It was a couple of months ago now and everything is stable which
is great. I’ve still got the L-plates on for sure but I feel much more confident especially when I’m holding Daniel’s (Whiston’s) hand.”

A big fan of the show, Linda has been getting some tips from Emmerdale colleague and former Dancing on Ice contestant Emily Symons, and she confesses that she had her eye on Emily’s man and so she is delighted to have bagged him as her own skating partner.

“I really hoped I’d get Dan because I’ve been to watch the show as a spectator over the last couple of years. Obviously Emily Symons had him and she said ‘you’ve got to have Dan’ and I knew it wasn’t up to me to make that choice. So when he walked on to the ice I was absolutely thrilled and he’s become a really good friend. He’s been staying over at my house and Sam, my husband, and I had nights out with him so now I feel like I’ve known him all my life.”

Having recently finished filming her final scenes for Emmerdale, Linda is able to concentrate all her efforts on improving her skating and is determined to give her all in the first live show.

“I totally belong to Dancing On Ice now and I’m dedicating all my time to it. I know in myself that I’ve done the best I can really and I’ve tried the best I can and I think that if the routines aren’t great it won’t be for lack of trying.

“I’m quite confident really. Daniel’s such a wonderful teacher and he’s so patient with me and sometimes the most dramatic things aren’t the hardest, sometimes it’s the things that look simple on the ice that are hardest – it’s backwards really. On some of the amazing lifts it’s Daniel doing all the work, I’ve just got to concentrate on holding my body stiff but it’s the tricky footwork on the ice where you should take your hat off to people because that’s the difficult stuff.”

Her husband and two children are behind her all the way, and together with the Emmerdale cast will be forming a Linda fan club from the sidelines each week.

“My husband was really thrilled I got the show and has been so supportive.After my ankle injury he just said ‘I’m just so proud of you to have come through it getting back on the ice and carrying on.’ My kids, Lucy aged 11 and 8 year old Jack just can’t wait to come.They’re already making banners for the show. I expect David Seaman will come along and see me as well because I supported him when he was in it and he keeps phoning to see how my foot is and see how I’m getting on.”

If there’s one thing Linda has learned from former contestants David Seaman and Emily Symons, it’s to protect yourself on the ice and not worry about how ridiculous you might look. “My big tip is to keep your armour on during training. I always make sure I’ve got my knee pads and elbow pads on.When you’re learning it doesn’t matter what you look like,just look after yourself because no matter how easy it looks, the first time you get on you’re going to fall over and it’s harder than concrete.”

Linda Lusardi has been the first of probably many, Dancing On Ice celebrities to sustain an injury whilst rehearsing.

The former glamour model and Emmerdale actress has broken a foot whilst practising her routines and then just a few days ago managed to land on her head on the rink.

Lusardi stated:

“I dislocated my foot and broke a metatarsal – hence the granny shoes. I had to spend Christmas without my high heels, which was more traumatic than breaking my foot!

“I’ve missed about six weeks of training so I’m a little bit behind but I’m catching up fast.

“I did fall on my head a couple of days ago too, trying to do a spin.

“But I’m a bit game so I’ll probably go for everything that’s thrown at me.”

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean return ready to put a brand new team of well known names through their paces to prepare them for the ultimate live ice dancing championship.

This year the Dancing On Ice twelve contestants are: Javelin champion Steve Backley, Hollyoaks actor Chris Fountain, pop star Gareth Gates, TV presenter Sarah Greene, Emmerdale actress Linda Lusardi, TV presenter and cleaning guru Aggie Mackenzie, singer Samantha Mumba, TV presenter Natalie Pinkham, tennis star Greg Rusedski, singer and actress Suzanne Shaw, GMTV reporter Michael Underwood, and TV presenter Tim Vincent. Check our site tomorrow for the full celebrity profiles and official Dancing On Ice pictures.

With expectation higher than ever, and performances set to be even more spectacular, our twelve novice skaters have their work cut out to make the grade. Paired with a champion skating partner, and coached by the superstar duo, they will take to the rink, hoping to impress with their glittering costumes, daring moves and slick routines.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby preside and each week our resident panel of expert judges will scrutinise every dance, hoping to be increasingly dazzled by the thrill, speed and grace of the live ice performance.

Each week it’s up to the viewers to judge the talent and make the final decision on who should skate on… or off the championship.

11 million viewers tuned in to see ex-England rugby ace Kyran Bracken crowned Dancing On Ice champion 2007 after a nail-biting contest which saw him fight it out against Clare Buckfield and Duncan James, as each performed their own version of Torvill and Dean’s legendary Bolero.

Jayne Torvill said: “It’s fantastic to be back after the success of the first series and we are looking forward to joining a new batch of celebrities on the ice.”

Christopher Dean said: “We have a great mix of stars from the worlds of sport, radio and TV who have the potential to match some of the outstanding talent we saw on the first series.”

With the bar raised, and competitiveness at a peak, how will our new celebrity skaters fare under the spotlight?