Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi admits she's 'struggling' ahead of Dancing on Ice debut

12 January 2024 , 20:00

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Roxy Shahidi admits she's 'struggling' with training (Image: PA)

Roxy Shahidi has revealed she's finding Dancing on Ice training difficult ahead of her first live performance.

Speaking to the Mirror and other press, Roxy, who is paired with professional skater Sylvain Longchambon, was asked what she most hopes to achieve from taking part in Dancing on Ice. She said: "On the ice, just to be able to skate independently, to master like my forwards and backwards crossovers, which is really simple for a lot of people to do, but I'm really struggling with.

"And, also just to walk away from it feeling like I've given it my all but I've also managed to enjoy it because so often even just turning up at training, I'm so anxious because I'm doing something that's new. I want to be better than I am and I'm just trying to find acceptance and just enjoy it as much as possible because I don't want to look back and be like, 'I've spent my entire time stressing'. As cheesy as it sounds I want to do my best and have a nice time."

Roxy Shahidi is partnered with Sylvain Longchambon (WireImage)

Roxy wants to feel confident on the ice (ITV)

Despite her nerves, Roxy revealed she has spoken to her partner about her infamous headbanger move. She explained: "I’ll explore it, we'll have a bit of a walk through with it. You can practice what it is that you need to do off the ice and get an idea of the physical shape that you need.

"You've got to anchor your body away from the ice, and be able to hold that position – that's what saves you from hitting your shoulder and spinning onto your face and destroying it. But if it feels unsafe, I don't want to put it in a routine because obviously Sylvain is more than capable of doing it, but if I'm going into it with too much trepidation, I'll end up being the one that messes it up."

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Roxy will be competing against former boxer Ricky Hatton, S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt, Love Island's Amber Davies, Olympian Greg Rutherford, Made In Chelsea star Miles Nazaire and former EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood.

Comedian Lou Sanders, Radio DJ Adele Roberts, soap icon Claire Sweeney and Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas will also take to the ice while Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards stepped in after Gogglebox's Stephen Lustig-Webb dropped out due to injury.

Dancing on Ice host Holly Willoughby will launch her TV comeback on Sunday alongside pal and new co-host Stephen Mulhern. In October, Holly announced she would be stepping down from This Morning after it emerged she was the victim of an alleged kidnap and murder plot.

Former Dancing on Ice and This Morning host Phillip Schofield quit ITV after he admitted to lying about an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger colleague.

Charlotte McIntyre