Dancing On Ice’s ‘best’ celeb may lose in final for being the least famous, says former winner
DANCING On Ice winner James Jordan has hinted that show favourite Nile Wilson may miss out on the final for one big reason.
James, who was the ITV skating competition in 2019, said he was impressed by the Olympian’s technique on the ice after just week one.
But the ex-Strictly star, 44, admitted that Nile’s smaller fan base may stand in the way of him lifting the trophy.
James gave his predictions and said: “I watched one episode didn’t I and there’s a really amazing guy on it.
“I was like, ‘He is so amazing.’ He’s young, annoying and does back flips and all of that,” James told the Express.
Confirming it was Nile he watched, James continued: I actually predicted he was going to be the best Dancing On Ice has ever seen but I haven’t seen anything since then.”
However, he explained that it’s a popularity contest and the winning vote is down to the public.
“It is at the end of the day a public vote and it might not necessarily be the best skater,” he added.
The Team GB star, who won bronze on the horizontal bar at in Rio 2016, knows a challenge when he sees one.
Ahead of this Sunday’s semi-final, Nile told The Sun: “Dancing On Ice and the Olympics are on a par. You still feel the same level of pride.
“The enormity of our experience, having to learn how to skate in such a short period of time then going on live TV in front of five million people.
“It feels the same to me as competing in the Olympics.”
Nile went into the ITV competition with the smallest fan base of all the celebrities.
But he’s remained the bookies’ favourite to win after topping the leaderboard from his very first skate.
Now days before he takes to the rink to claim a place in the final, Nile admits he is so keen to push himself, his pro partner Olivia Smart has to keep him “on a leash”.
He said: “The more confident I get on the ice, the more dangerous I want to take the stunts. Olivia is like, ‘Remember we want to get to the final and and we can’t do it if we’re broken!”
A preview for tonight showed that the remaining couples will be skating twice for the semi-finals.
There will be two eliminations during tomorrow’s semi-final show.