After months of training at up to 20 hours a week, the twelve celebrity skaters were ready for the first spectacular Dancing On Ice live show.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean opened the show entering the studio rink lowered from the ceiling in a huge custom built chandelier. To the song “Let’s get this Party Started” (Shirley Bassey) Jayne and Chris took to the rink in a dazzling display of fire and ice with an ensemble of ten professional skaters and two fire-throwers. The routine choreographed by Take That’s choreographer Kim Gavin along with Jayne and Chris showed the incredible talent of the skating partners to their full.

No-one wanted to be the first to go but it was Sarah Greene and Samantha Mumba who found themselves in the bottom two receiving the least public votes. The judges chose to save SAMANTHA MUMBA.

On hearing all five judges save Samantha, Sarah hugged her, and then said: “I’ve loved all of it – And this is a fantastic hobby to have. I’m going to continue. It’s been such a fantastic experience and a fantastic sport. I just can’t wait to get back to all my friends at Slough ice rink. Everyone should take it up.”

TV presenter Sarah Greene, 47, describes her skating as comical but despite that she is overjoyed to be fulfilling her girlhood dream of ‘dressing up’ once a week.

“I am so looking forward to the costumes. For anybody who likes playing dress up like me,this is a dream.As a little girl I always wanted to wear these sorts of sparkly dresses and I’ve had to wait rather a long time to wear them.That’s just one side of it. Most of all I’m looking forward to making my family proud.

“My skating is comical but there has to be a bit of comedy in everything, a bit of lightness. I am becoming braver. My problem has
been fear and I’m learning to be not as scared.”

After twenty years as a TV presenter, Sarah has worked in almost every area of broadcasting but is most fondly remembered for being a Blue Peter presenter.A far cry from her days dealing with stickybacked plastic, Sarah has also been seen on stage in The Vagina Monologues, a reminder that she trained first and foremost as an actress. Read more & comment »

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. Read more & comment »