CityLife

Must see: Dancing On Ice - Live Tour 2010

Hayley Tamaddon and Daniel Whiston

Who would have predicted that a nerdy-sounding idea like getting former soap stars involved in an ice dance-off once a week would become the multimillion-pound netting concept it has become?

Not us. Obviously, or we’d have been calling Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean in 2006 to see if we could get in as backers on their Dancing On Ice TV programme.

But the weekly ‘reality’ show has not only become one of ITV’s biggest audience pullers; it’s grown legs and become a high-grossing touring show, too – one that almost a million punters have now paid to see, and one that takes over UK arenas for days on end.

Manchester’s M.E.N Arena is no exception. The venue hosts six Dancing On Ice Live shows – four evening performances and two matinees – featuring familiar contestants and their professional trainers.

A panel of judges, including Oldham-born Christopher Biggins (pictured below), and skating medal winners Karen Barber and Nicky Slater, sit and deliver their verdict with final scores handled out by them and the live audience. The national tour, which travels to seven cities for 38 live shows, is quite an exhausting schedule for everyone involved.

For that reason – and to keep the programme varied – some nights will be getting special turns from former contestants on the show.

But on those nights where we’re only getting the regulars, there’s a cast list of winners and top scorers to boast, including series winners Gaynor Faye (ex-Corrie), Hayley Tamaddon (Emmerdale) and Ray Quinn, runners up Chris Fountain (Hollyoaks), Gary Lucy (The Bill) and (Ant and) Dec’s ex-girlfriend Clare Buckfield, plus stars of series five Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners) and Boyzone’s Mikey Graham.

Find out who proves to be lord of the rink from Thursday.

MEN Arena - April 22 to 25, 2010 - £32.50-£65.