Dancing on Ice, episode 1 review: A ground-breaking step towards equality

It’s been a history-making weekend on ITV. First the terrifying and bonkers (but mostly terrifying) the Masked Singer posed the question: would the public really sit through a talent show in which singing celebrities are disguised as nightmare-fuel unicorns? (yes, apparently).

Twenty-four hours later a great TV leap forward of a more profound nature was taken as the new run of Dancing On Ice kicked off. Pride of place went to the first ever reality television same-sex dance between a contestant and a professional (Strictly Come Dancing, to its vague credit, had partnered up two pros for a one-off this season).

Yes, primetime Sunday night ITV feels a strange setting for a ground-breaking step towards equality. Nonetheless, that’s what happened as Ian “H” Watkins of Steps and pro ice dancer Matt Evers swayed and swooned to High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco.

Their pirouette was the crowning moment in an episode that confirmed Dancing On Ice as the edgier cousin of the BBC’s Strictly. The trappings are more or less same. There are elaborate routines, wise-cracking judges, bantering presenters (Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in this instance).

The difference, of course, is that a tumble on Strictly is a mild embarrassment. Here it can result in serious injury. That lesson was learned by Michael Barrymore. Despite his name popping up in the credits he’d had to cry off three weeks out after breaking his wrist during a slip.

He was invited along and seemed appreciative of the courtesy. Yet most of the attention was understandably on Watkins and his dance with Evers.

“Because I am a gay guy I wanted a same-sex partner,” explained Watkins in his introductory video. “This is my 12th series… this year is pretty special,” agreed Evers.

That perspective was evidently shared by new judge John Barrowman who broke down in tears as the pair navigated the rink. His emotion was understandable, though he presumably didn’t catch the Dancing on Ice Christmas Special where Watkins and Evers had partnered up previously.

“That makes me happy on a complete multitude of levels,” says Barrowman. “Seeing two men represent someone who is like me… to skate as well as you did. We’ve shown two men can perform and skate together.”

Still, Watkins didn’t quite knock it out of the rink with his actual skating as his final score was a mid-table 25. He was, however, never at serious risk of finishing bottom in the public vote.

That dubious distinction went to TV host Trisha Goddard. She was dancing to Give It Up by KC and the Sunshine Band, but instead she gave it down as she tumbled onto the ice (magician Ben Hanlin nearly did likewise, just about managing to stay wobblingly upright).

As punishment Goddard will have to participate in a dance-off after the remaining six contestants (of 12) make their entrance next week. She put a brave face on it. “I’m excited,” she said of her bottom-rung finish. “It gives me a chance to show what I can do.”

Would she have fared better with Michael Barrymore still in the running? We’ll obviously never know as he is replaced by former Blue Peter host Radzi Chinyanganya. Still, ITV didn’t have the heart to deny Barrymore at least a taste of the spotlight. His fall was chronicled in a video diary and then he popped along to the studio.

“Watching the show, I started to feel... it got to me a bit,” he said, adding that he hadn’t stood before a crowd of this scale in 18 years.

There was less upheaval on the judging panel. As the new boy Barrowman seemed determined to prove his Simon Cowell credentials and marked lower than his fellow adjudicators on several occasions. Joining him were Olympic icons Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo of Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity

Bragging rights among the participants meanwhile went to Perri Kiely, all grown-up since taking his first bow on BGT as a 12 year-old member of…erm Banjo’s Diversity (it is a bit weird that he is on the show given Banjo is essentially his mentor). Sporting a novelty man-bun and dancing with pro Vanessa Bauer he topped the leaderboard with a total of 27.5. Just behind is Coronation Street’s Lisa George and pro skater Tom Naylor, notching up 26.5.

Yet Kiely will understand if his deserved victory is quickly forgotten. Instead, it was Watkins’s twirl that is likely to linger in the memory. It may even have earned Dancing On Ice a place in the history books. Your move, Strictly.