ITV Lorraine star Ria Hebden worried she'd embarrass herself in Dancing on Ice moment

TV presenter Ria Hebden showed off her impressive skills last weekend, as she took to the stage for the first episode of Dancing On Ice 2022.

Ria, who is known for TV programmes including Lorraine, and her professional dance partner Lukasz Rozycki, sent fans wild with their Great Gatsby inspired performance in front of a celebrity judging panel including Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse and ice skating legends Torvill and Dean.

However, Ria has now revealed to Daily Star that before the first live show, she was worried she would ’embarrass herself’ during a surprise moment on the ice with Torvill and Dean.

During rehearsals for the show, Ria told Daily Star that the contestants had been asked to film segments together for the programme, but instead Ria had to take to the ice on her own, saying: “I was so nervous because I hadn’t been on the ice rink on my own at all.

“I was a bit worried that they were filming this, and I was going to embarrass myself with Christopher [Dean] and Jayne [Torvill].”

After having “a little chat” with herself, the star said “come on you can do this. Don’t fear it – go for it,” before being surprised by Christopher Dean, who unexpectedly lifted her up and span her around in the air.

Ria said: “I skated on and he [Christopher Dean] picked me up, which I did not expect, and whizzed me around, which felt like 20 million times!

“All I could see was the ceiling spinning, but it was the most amazing feeling. You feel like you’re flying!”

However, the TV presenter explained that the unexpected surprise from Christopher Dean also inspired her with confidence and calmed any feelings of fear before the first live show, as it reminded her of another love in her life.

She said: “I think that was really good that he did that initially, because it made me think.

“I love fairground rides, all the rollercoasters and I still to, so for me, it’s that feeling. It’s not scary. It’s that thrill that you love from being on a waltzer or being on a rollercoaster.”

Talking about that special moment with the famous ice skating duo, she also added: “It was so lovely to meet Christopher and Jayne. They’re so wonderful and I have so much respect for them.

“It was a bit surreal standing there last week, with them giving me critiques. It was like, is this actually happening?”

Ria’s Great Gatsby inspired performance won rave reviews from viewers in the first live show, but ultimately she was placed third in the leaderboard with a score of 24.5 and came in the bottom two with Coronation Street’s Sally Dynevor.

She will also be one of the first celebrities to take part in the skate off during Sunday’s live show, but has said that the critiques she received are something that she is taking into her training this week.

Despite being placed in the bottom two, Ria has said she “enjoyed every single second of it. “I’m so proud that I came third out of the judge’s scores.”

She added: “I’m still pinching myself that I did a cartwheel, on live television, on ice – and I didn’t kill myself!”

The star has since received hundreds of messages from friends and fans all over the world too, which have helped to inspire the presenter ahead of this week’s skate off.

She said: “It’s been amazing. I’ve just been inundated with calls and text messages, flowers. I need to buy a new vase – I haven’t got any vases left, because I’ve got so many flowers.

“It’s wonderful, it’s so nice to know that so many people were watching all over the world. I have friends in Australia and Dubai who called me to say they watched it. That was amazing.

“Also just to feel the love and support from people, it’s just really encouraging.”

Talking about her experience of ice skating before the programme, the star said that she had last ice skated when she was a child on a trip to Bradford ice rink with her grandparents, and that she was proud to have learnt how to skate in such a short amount of time for the programme.

“I literally could not skate before this,” said Ria.

“The fact that I was taught how to do all those lifts and stuff. I’ve just looked at the footage back and sometimes I’m like, I can’t actually believe that was me.”

Ria also revealed a sweet message that she received from young fans while she was training to take part in Dancing On Ice, saying: “these three little girls came up to me and said ‘you’re amazing.’

“I was like, I’m really not, I’m just doing my best. They were like, ‘no really, what you’re doing, we couldn’t do until a year of ice skating.’

“That really helped me with my confidence as it put it into perspective. I thought wow. It was so lovely to hear from these little girls that you inspire them.”

After receiving support from friends and fans all over the world ahead of this week’s skate off, Ria shared a glimpse into her upcoming performance, saying it will be “uplifting” and to a song by a “well known artist.”

She also told us that her ice skating days will be continuing beyond the programme, adding: “I didn’t realise how challenging learning to ice skate would be, but the more I put the hours in, I love it.

“I think this is something that I’m going to continue to do, even after the show.

“It’s really weird, when you just kind of think, it’s a really wonderful feeling. I love it.”

Dancing on Ice airs Sundays on ITV and ITV Hub

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk