DANCING On Ice trailblazer Ian ‘H’ Watkins insists the programme is the most dangerous show on TV and more technical than rival show Strictly Come Dancing.
In 2017 H made history by becoming one half of Dancing On Ice’s first ever same sex pairing with pro skater Matt Evers.
Ian ‘H’ Watkins believes Dancing On Ice is tougher than Strictly Come Dancing
H featured in the 2017 series of Dancing On Ice
He managed to escape the series without any major injuries but other stars over the years haven’t been so lucky.
The likes of Michael Underwood, Michael Barrymore and Connor Ball have all suffered nasty injuries from broken bones to gruesome cuts.
And with the new line-up recently announced there’s sure to be plenty of scrapes and crashes in the coming months as they get used to life on the ice.
In an exclusive interview with the Sun to promote Play Doh’s first ever book: Notes on Messy Parenting, H said: “It’s the most dangerous show on television. Strictly, as hard as that is and as intense as rehearsals and choreography are, it’s nothing like Dancing On Ice. It’s the tougher show.
“You can literally put a blade on the ice fall and break your leg. Whereas Strictly, you’ll probably get a bruise, so the danger element and technical element far exceeds Strictly, and that’s no disrespect to Strictly because it’s an entertainment show.
“It has glitz, it has glamour, it has technique, but you have all of that on Dancing On Ice on hard water.”
H spent years pushing for a same sex pairing on the programme and when he finally got the call to take part, he knew there was only one way he would say yes.
He said: “It’s a show I always wanted to do. I auditioned for it three times and I never ever got it. And this time I was so comfortable in my own skin, I was an out and proud gay dad and I wanted my children to see me being my authentic self, so when I got the call I had it I said I will do it but under these conditions.
“It wasn’t me throwing my toys out the pram, I just said if you want me this is the way I’ll do it, if not then I’ll walk away and there’s no hard feelings.”
Ultimately bosses agreed to partner H with a male pro dancer and millions tuned in to see the progressive telly moment.
The success of H and Matt’s partnership had a direct impact on Dancing On Ice’s rival entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing.
It also embraced a same sex pairing for the first time in its next series pairing Nicola Adams with Katya Jones.
And John Whaite and Johannes Radebe followed, becoming the first all-male pairing.
Filled with anecdotes, daily dramas and ball drops from well-known parents in the UK, Notes on Messy Parenting is available to read and download free.
H has teamed up with Play Doh for its book Notes On Messy Parenting
