Dancing On Ice 2022: Strictly’s Brendan Cole wows with ‘best first performance ever’

Brendan Cole impressed the judges with the ‘best first performance ever’ as he topped the leaderboard with a total of 30.5 out of 40 points during the Dancing On Ice launch on Sunday night. 

Although Brendan achieved an incredible score for his first routine, he received some backlash online has many viewers pointed out his professional dancer background on Strictly Come Dancing.

His former co-star Oti Mabuse, 31, made her judging debut on the panel during the first show of 2022, after John Barrowman was sacked over allegations of flashing on the set of Doctor Who.

Phillip Schofield welcomed newcomer Oti to the judging panel, as she entered the rink wearing a stunning red gown before taking her place alongside Ashley Banjo, Jayne Torvil and Christopher Dean.

The troop of professional skaters kicked off the night with a performance to Snaps’ Rhythm Is A Dancer while hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield rejoiced over the return of an audience, after they stripped back the show last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The new series of Dancing On Ice kicked off with six couples taking to the ice rink during the first week trying to impress the judges.

While there are a total of 12 couples hoping to skate to the finale, only six competed this week during the launch night, including Happy Mondays’ Bez and Angela Egan, Brendan Cole and Vanessa Bauer and Sally Dynevor and Matt Evers. 

Also showing off their skating prowess was Ria Hebden and Łukasz Różycki, Kye Whyte and Tippy Packard and Pussycat Dolls’ Kimberly Wyatt and Mark Hanretty.

Former Strictly professional Brendan Cole was the first to take to the rink alongside his professional partner Vanessa Bauer as they performed to Ram Jam’s Black Betty.

The show got off to a flying start receiving a total of 30.5 out of 40, he was given 7.5 points by Ashley, 8 from Oti, while Jayne and Chris both offered 7.5.

Chris told Brendan: ‘Best first performance by a celebrity in all 14 series. Tonight it was on form, you were strength, strong, superior and masculine. What I really appreciate is that you’re really getting into the ice.’

Defending his professional dancer ability, he added: ‘He’s learned to skate, which enables to show off him his dancing ability.’

Ashley added: ‘As someone who could dance before I could skate, they are completely different worlds.’

Many viewers picked up on Brendan’s dancing past and took to Twitter to air their grievance following his incredible performance on the ice.

One person said: I know it’s ice skating but the show is called Dancing On Ice so why, yet again have they put a professional dancer in Brendal Cole on as a contestant?

‘Saw it with James Jordan. How is a novice meant to compete with someone as agile? Reeks of one-horse race.’

Another said: ‘Won’t Brendan Cole have an unfair advantage on Dancing On Ice, what with him being a pro dancer ‘n all that?’

A third agreed, saying: ‘Brendan Cole?? That’s a bit unfair he’s already a dancer like the other Strictly pro who won it. Won’t be watching it’s rubbish anyway.’ 

Next up was Sally Dynevor, who admitted earlier in the week that she had been struggling with her nerves and was having trouble sleeping in the run up to Sunday’s launch.

Sally – who has played Sally Webster on Corrie since 1986 – told This Morning’s Holly and Phil she had been struggling to let go of her skate partner Matt Evers’ hand, saying ‘it’s just too terrifying’.

She said: ‘My real problem is the confidence thing. I am struggling with my confidence.  I’m just hoping that as this journey goes along, if I get the opportunity, I’ll find a little bit more confidence every week. I just need to get through Sunday night.’

Sally – who performed to Fyfe Dangerfield’s She’s Always A Woman with her partner Matt Evers – suffered a small wobble during the show but it wasn’t reflected in her healthy score of 23 out of 40.

She was awarded 5.5 by Ashley, 6.5 by Oti and Jayne and Chris both gave her 5.5.

Jayne: ‘Your techique is really good, what you should do is just believe in yourself and have confidence.’

Chris complemented their connection on the ice and admitted he almost scored slightly higher until she suffered the stumble on the ice during their routine. 

Kye Whyte made his debut alongside professional skater Tippy Packard to Dizzy Rascal’s Bonkers.

He received a total of 24 out of 40 after being awarded 6 points by Ashley, 5.5 by Oti, 6 from Jayne and 6.5 from Chris.  Holly told Kye he ‘exploded’ on the ice, but Kye admitted he was really scared while performing. 

Ashley said: ‘Who rides a BMX on ice skates with a firework on the back? The technique is there, you’ve obviously put the hours in, but you need to work on the performace, what your doing with your face.’ 

Bez performed to his own song Step On [Happy Mondays], but only managed to achieve 12.5 out of 40. 

He was given Ashley 3, Oti 3.5, Jayne 3, Chris, 3. 

Chris said: ‘Skating is hard, you’ve shown how hard it is. You’ve got a mark for turning up, standing up and a mark for that jump.’

Ashley said: ‘You’ve got my respect, if anyone needed to wear a crash helmet – I don’t think they’d come out. But you have. Forgot the scores I was genuienly entertained.’

Lorraine fashionista Ria Hebden joined professional skating partner Łukasz Różycki for their first routine of the series to Harry Styles’ Treat People With Kindness. 

Holly declared that Ria had got off to a great start after achieving 24.5 out of 40. She was given 6 points by Ashley, 6 points by Oti, 6.5 by Jayne and Chris gave her 6 points. 

Oti complemented her ‘infectious energy’ and told her she is no doubt about to have the best journey ever. 

Hot on Brendan’s tails was Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt performed to What About Us? by Pink with her professional partner Mark Hanretty. 

The scores she received were’; Ashley 7.5, Oti 8, Jayne 7, Chris, 7.5 – 30.

This Morning favourites Holly and Phillip returned as hosts of the ice extravaganza and the presenter shared a sneak peek at her look earlier in the evening.

Holly, 40, posted a picture in her strapless ice blue Susanne Nevilel gown, which hugged her curves and highlighted her incredible physique as she posed for the picture.

Susanne Neville is a favourite designer of Holly’s and she is regularly spotted wearing her dresses both on the Dancing On Ice rink and at glitzy showbiz events and parties.

Holly wore her cropped platinium blonde locks in glamorous curls and accentuated her pretty features with a natural pallet of make-up, while simply accessorising with glitzy stud earrings.  

She captioned the stunning shot: ‘And we’re back… Dancing On Ice 2022 see you on ITV at 6:30pm. 

Her co-host Phillip, 59, also teased their return to the ice earlier in the day, as he shared a snap of the presenting duo during rehearsals. 

Phillip was wrapped up in a black padded joke as he flashed a broad smile for the camera, while Holly stood behind him in a jumper and checked coat.

He captioned the image: ‘Back at the rink.’ 

New judge Oti revealed she is planning to continue with Strictly Come Dancing ‘one season at a time’ following speculation that she will quit the show after seven series.

The ballroom professional, 31, made her debut on the judging panel during Sunday night’s show-stopping return, after John Barrowman was axed over historic allegations of flashing his manhood whilst filming Doctor Who.

She’s also made it clear that Brendan Cole, her former co-star on the BBC One show, certainly won’t be getting any special treatment as a contestant on the famous rink.

Having announced in April 2021 that she would make last year’s series of Strictly her final one, she told The Sun: ‘I don’t know why I said that, but I will take it a season at a time. I don’t know what came over me.’

Going on to claim that it’s been ‘the best part of her career’, she added that she changed her mind after returning to the famous studio, ‘walking onto that floor and seeing your whole family’ where there’s ‘so much love and passion’. 

Oti is set to come face-to-face again with her fellow Strictly pro Brendan, who was reportedly sacked from the reality show in 2017 following a series of feuds with the judges over their feedback.

Claiming her pal will be a calmer contestant, Oti said: ‘Brendan is such a big character, but I won’t be biased. He’s got one of the best professional skaters in Vanessa [Bauer], so there’s this expectation that he’s going to be amazing.’

She went on to claim she doesn’t think he will argue with the judges since he’s ‘grown up’ and ‘will be learning the new skill’ rather than ‘defending his partner’. 

Oti, who joined Strictly in 2015 when she was partnered with Olympic boxer Anthony Ogogo, 33, revealed BBC bosses ‘congratulated’ her after she landed the ITV job. 

Concerning her future at Strictly, she told MailOnline: ‘There will be an announcement that will be made later. But for me as a person in entertainment, I really want to learn and grow and I want a long career, especially in this country.

‘I moved all the way from Africa so I must make something of myself so I am really trying to learn and do as much as I can for as long as I can, while I can.

‘I have done a couple of panel shows but I have been a dance captain and a dance detective, but I have never been said to be a judge.

‘I love competition and I love watching people learn new skills and try to get better every single week.

‘It is a journey that I absolutely enjoy, to be a part of, and watch. To know that I am doing it now with ice-skating is very exciting for me. I can’t wait, I am buzzing.’

Strictly judge Motsi, 40, has been guiding younger sister Oti’s career and giving her tips on how to become a top TV judge.

Oti, who won the Glitterball trophy for two consecutive years with Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher, 37, and comedian Bill Bailey, 56, said: ‘We are really close my sister and I and we know that we are quite loud and bubbly and her advice to me was just to be myself.

‘Everyone from the BBC who congratulated me said the same thing. They said be yourself, be honest, say what you see and say what you feel and say how you hope they would improve and better themselves.

‘At the end of the day it’s about the celebrities and the show and helping them get better to actually win.’

Oti made her judging debut in 2019 alongside Cheryl Tweedy, 38, in BBC One series The Greatest Dancer but her switch to ITV show The Masked Dancer impressed bosses, eventually leading to her role of judge on Dancing On Ice.

The dancer was also recently revealed as the host of new ITV show Romeo & Duet, telling her Instagram followers this week: ‘My heart is just full with excitement and joy about this announcement.’ 

Dancing on Ice continues Sunday at 6:30pm on ITV and ITV Hub 

Source: Daily Mail