Breaking the ice with dance stars

As the Dancing On Ice tour enjoys its run in Birmingham, Michelle Pearson goes behind the scenes before taking a seat alongside the show's judges.

There is something surreal about walking into a room where some of television's most famous faces are milling around in dressing gowns kicking a football about to kill time.

But the atmosphere backstage at Birmingham's NIA could not have been more relaxed ahead of last night's latest instalment of the tour version of television's Dancing On Ice.

Celebrity Clare Buckfield was casually kicking a small ball around wearing a pink dressing gown while reigning champion Suzanne Shaw grabbed a bite to eat in the canteen.

Host Andi Peters leaned up a wall chatting to passers-by and endless familiar faces including skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, strolled through the corridors.

The team has clearly grown close over the tour and there is a real close-knit family spirit. The canteen was a hive of activity as skaters and the production crew gathered to sample the menu's tasty offerings which included rabbit, halibut steaks and chicken skewers.

But tables cleared quickly as the start of the show neared with people rushing off to get ready and soon reappearing in the corridors donning the glitzy costumes people know them for.

Most reality television fans have found themselves shouting at the small screen thinking they could do better than the expert judges week after week.

But taking the best seat in the house alongside the show's regular panel was certainly a daunting, yet unforgettable, task.

Having chatted with the skaters backstage, it was hard to be as critical as when sitting at home.

A small keypad is next to each judge along with the must-have notebook and glass of water – requirements on any such panel.

Words of wisdom had been passed on by the panel, including the show's Mr Nasty Jason Gardiner who is, not surprisingly, pleasant and not nasty in the slightest.

Each dance seemed to fly by and it was soon time to punch in the score as the skating couple bowed to their applause.

It was on only the second performance, by Coronation Street's Zaraah Abrahams, that Andi Peters asked for my opinion and it was suddenly as straightforward as when at home.

My views were also given on Emmerdale's Linda Lusardi who had glided gracefully around the rink and she later thanked me for my comments praising her efforts.

But it was Hollywood heart-throb Chris Fountain who absolutely raised the roof with his dance to Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River and the 6.0 top mark was in my keypad the second he finished.

He then went head to head with the golden boy of last year's series, rugby player Kyran Bracken to dance Torvill and Dean's Bolero following audience votes.

It was back to the judges for the casting vote and great delight was taken in delivering the line 'my champion tonight is…' with the essential pause before backing Chris Fountain.

The majority of the panel agreed and he lifted the trophy.

Any nerves I may have had were forgotten as the judges launched into an energetic dance while the skaters circled the rink and who was I to resist.

There was no pretentiousness backstage and the celebrities were welcoming and chatty.

Bonnie Langford praised my shoes and asked if I wanted to swap with her skates while Chris Fountain carried me across a section of ice backstage when no rubber matting was in place.

They are a down-to-earth group and their closeness behind the scenes clearly makes for a top performance in front of fans.

* Torvill & Dean's Dancing On Ice – Live is at Birmingham's NIA until tomorrow.

Picture copyright of Jason Sheldon.