‘The final feels like the Olympics!'

As the Dancing On Ice grand final approaches, Torvill and Dean talk potential champions, memorable moments and the stars they’d love to see sign up for the next series…

- TRICIA MARTIN

Fans are going to remember Dancing On Ice 2022, for all sorts of reasons. It’s featured some of the best skaters the show has ever seen, leading to a final where it’s impossible to call who’ll win. The series welcomed a new judge in the form of Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse, who took over from John Barrowman. And then there was the first routine by Happy Mondays star Bez…

“Twisting my melon man? Sure…” laughs judge and skating legend Christopher Dean during our chat with him and his ice dance partner Jayne Torvill before Sunday’s finale.

We’ve seen some big personalities take to the ice in the past, and some brave celebrities who were clearly out of their depth. But watching Bez’s tentative performance to the group’s hit Step On – complete with dancing slices of watermelon joining him on the ice – really was TV gold. If we hadn’t seen it for ourselves we’d think it was all a weird dream after too many drinks or a late-night cheese feast…

Despite the added entertainment value of seeing Bez wearing a crash helmet as part of his costume each week – the first skater to do so – he departed the competition fifth. Now we’re at the final, with former Strictly star Brendan Cole, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, and pro dancer (and son of Gazza) Regan Gascoigne left. And according to Chris and Jayne, anyone could win it...

Chris and Jayne, it’s been an exceptional series of Dancing On Ice. What have been the stand out moments for you?