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.

Having challenged herself in many new ways in the past few years, including a round the world trip that she describes as her ‘gap break’, she was more than happy to rise to this latest test. Even with her pilates experience, Sarah has been amazed at the extra muscles she is having to use in her quest to learn how to skate.

“Little did I know how much core strength was going to come into play with ice skating.The first assumption is that it’s all about your feet and arms and legs but from a girl’s point of view of being lifted into the air it’s about having that strength about your middle to hold yourself firm and rigid.When you’re trying to balance you’re using every single muscle in your body.”

She is also becoming accomplished in what she calls the whole new language of ice skating.

“You can bore the pants off everybody who doesn’t know what you’re talking about because there is this whole vocabulary that goes with skating and now I know it. Learning the language of skating such as the meaning of ‘two forward cross overs on the left hand side’ is just as tiring as the physical side of it.”

Sarah also has a very special bond with Torvill and Dean, having been charged with presenting them with their gold Blue Peter badges after their win at the 1984 Olympics.

“I was in love with Torvill and Dean, as we all were as a nation. I was right at the very beginning of my television career and I was lucky enough to be the person that had to go to Heathrow airport and meet them in a Rolls Royce and bring them back to London after winning the Olympic Gold. I gave them each their gold Blue Peter badge. I remember my heart being in my mouth because I was completely overawed by them and their skill and the romance of it.When I saw Jane and Chris for the first time after all those years they were sweet enough to pretend that they remembered it.”

While she’s trying to remain positive, Sarah does have a few overriding concerns and top of her list is acid tongued Jason Gardiner.

“I’m dreading the witty and very insightful comments of Jason Gardiner.This is the thing about him – we may not like the way he says things but usually the things he says are true so I’m really dreading that.

“I’m also worried about how I will be perceived by the public, I mean I haven’t been on terrestrial television in years and an awful lot of people are going to go ‘who the heck is she?’ There’s more to look forward to than to dread though, that’s what I go to sleep telling myself when I’m feeling overwhelmed with fear thinking ‘what the hell am I doing this for?’ putting myself through torture.Then I think ‘hang on a minute remember you’re enjoying this,’ which I am.”

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?