The revamped version of Dancing On Ice has kicked off with a routine from Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton, who managed to avoid slipping or tripping on the ice.
The ITV programme, which ended in 2014 after nine series, sees celebrities paired with professional skaters in a bid to impress with tricky ice dancing routines.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have returned as presenters, and the judging panel is comprised of former Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean – who previously acted as coaches – choreographer Jason Gardiner and Diversity dancer Ashley Banjo.
Ladies and Gentlemen… @officialJasonG is back 😂 #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/YvZ0dEGkvy
— Dancing On Ice (@dancingonice) January 7, 2018
Cotton and his skating partner Brandee Malto performed to Club Tropicana by Wham!, and he dedicated the routine to a friend of his who died.
The actor managed to remain on his feet throughout the themed routine, and he was given an overall score of 15.5 from the judges out of a possible 40.
Gardiner quipped after Cotton’s themed dance: “I didn’t know what you were doing Antony, I like the fact that you set the scene, but then I didn’t understand the rest of the story.
“Were you a waiter or a gigolo?”
You can’t bribe the judges with cocktails, @antonycotton! 😂🍹 pic.twitter.com/JdKMOXCLsC
— Dancing On Ice (@dancingonice) January 7, 2018
Referring to a part of the routine in which he offered the judges a cocktail, Cotton replied: “If you’d have had a drink, you’d have understood it.”
Gardiner, who gave him three points out of 10, said: “If I’d had a drink, you might have looked better.”
He added that Cotton had “good energy, good presence” but said he needs to work on his “finish”.
Also dancing in the first episode of the series are Candice Brown, Stephanie Waring, Perri Shakes-Drayton, Jake Quickenden and Kem Cetinay.
The other remaining celebrity contestants will dance in the second episode next Sunday.