Dancing on Ice - Gareth Gates
11 January 2008 - Introducing celebrity skater Gareth Gates
Age: 23
Occupation: singer
Skating Partner: Maria Filippov
Celebrity Supporters: Emma Bunton, Will Young
Pop star Gareth Gates is putting his all into Dancing On Ice and admits that his competitive nature means that he's in it to win.
"I think my secret weapon is, Maria. She's by far the best skater"
"I've always been a hard worker and I always like to put 100% in. I think it would be boring if it wasn't a challenge so I'm looking forward to it. I'm a very competitive person and I thrive under pressure, so we'll see what happens. I keep on saying to Maria, we have to focus on winning but she's like: 'No, there's no point... just focus on you, and what you can do and being the best that you can be'."
Thrilled to have nabbed Maria Filippov as his skating partner, the pair are getting on well as friends and this is reflected in their performance on the ice.
"Maria's amazing. She's the most amazing skater and the most beautiful person. We're really getting on well. That was one of my main concerns [the skating partner] and so getting a partner that I can be friends with was so important for me."
Having first hit our screens in TV favourite Pop Idol, Gareth was riding high at the tender age of 17, recording hit after hit.
With no real previous experience on the ice, Gareth has found the skating much more difficult than he ever imagined and is especially concerned about the lifts.
"I'm really enjoying it which is the main thing but it's a lot harder than I originally thought especially as I've never really skated before. I've always been naturally slim and into sports, especially like football, but this is different. I've actually impressed myself with how far I've come. From not being able to do anything now I can sort of hold my own and actually dance with someone else.
"We've practiced a few little lifts off the ice – Not necessarily lifting Maria over my head though. And we haven't attempted me spinning Maria around yet – I don't think she trusts me."
Having watched some of the other competitors, Gareth sees Hollyoaks actor Chris Fountain as being a favourite but is determined to just focus on his own performance.
"I don't really see anybody as rivals but once the show starts, that's when you start to think this is a real competition. My game plan so far is just to focus on me and what I can do and getting the best out of me and the best out of the routines. We're all on the same level although Chris is amazing but I don't want to start comparing myself."
Chris might be a threat on the ice, but Gareth has something which gives him the edge over the other competitors.
"I think my secret weapon is, Maria. I think she's by far she's the best skater. Any good partner will make the other partner look good and I'm hoping that's what she's going to do."
While most people's stand out memory of Torvill and Dean is their Olympic Bolero performance, Gareth was just a baby at that time (1984) but he is still blown away by the talent of these legends.
"I've always known them obviously even though the year they won the Olympics was the year I was born. I must say Jayne and Christopher are two of the nicest people I've ever met. When they demonstrated my first routine with the music it was amazing. It really got me, and I got quite emotional. I almost started to fill up and was like pull yourself together… idiot… it's so beautiful."
