DANCING On Ice’s Brendan Cole is facing a battle to stay on the show with his new skating partner Brendyn.
Skater Vanessa Bauer was forced out of the competition with coronavirus – leaving Brendan scrambling to prepare for Sunday night’s show.
He’s being given extended rehearsal time to gel with his new partner Brendyn – but the pair have already faced their first struggle.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the show’s creative director Dan Whiston insisted: “Rehearsals are going really well with Brendan and Brendyn.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for me as a choreographer and also for the show to do this.
“Obviously, Vanessa can’t perform this weekend and we’ll really miss her but she is really behind the guys.
“I’ve spent extra time with Brendan and Brendyn, we’ve extended rehearsal sessions because it’s really hard for them to suddenly start a brand new skating relationship, they don’t know each other on the ice and how they work but they’ve gelled really well.”
He added: “So far they have been struggling with the ‘sliding lunge’. It’s difficult because one of them will be taking the other one’s weight and they have to slide horizontally across the ice with one of them holding the other up.
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“It is a lift in fact and it’s sliding so there is a lot of body control needed and it’s going at super speed so it’s challenging.”
For Musicals Week, the pair are skating to Beggin’ by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons from Jersey Boys – and have promised challenging lifts and tricks.
Dan adds: “The creative really suits them, it’s super strong, very cool and we’re going down an avenue that’s really exciting to watch.
“I don’t want to give too much away, but there are going to be some lifts in the routine and lots of solo skating.
“They are both taking it very seriously as we are, we want it to be a great performance.
“The bar has to remain high, the tricks have to be in there and the fast dynamic skating has to be better than ever. Watch this space, it’s going to be a good one.”
Brendan said he was “absolutely gutted” not to be able to skate with Vanessa this weekend.
It’s the second time Covid has scuppered Vanessa’s DOI preparations in the past year.
Last year she was forced out of the show with the illness while paired with Emmerdale’s Joe-Warren Plant.
Brendan’s new partner Brendyn was previously paired with Rachel Stevens, but the pair were eliminated in week two.
A Dancing on Ice spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, Vanessa Bauer is unable to skate this weekend after testing positive for Covid-19.
“We look forward to Vanessa returning to the competition soon. Brendan Cole will still perform in this Sunday’s show and will be partnered with professional skater Brendyn Hatfield.”
