CityLife

AS far as celebrity reality TV shows go, Dancing On Ice must count as the most perilous.<br /> <br /> Many a famous face has found to their cost that the unforgiving ice of the hit ITV show can lead to broken bones as well as broken dreams along the way.<br /> <br /> In a warped sort of way, it what makes the show all the more exciting for us viewers.<br /> <br /> And it still manages to pack the thousands upon thousands of fans into the M.E.N. Arena for this, the third year of touring.<br /> <br /> But this year has an extra special bit of pizzazz going for it – and that’s because the show’s benefactors and inspiration, ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their famous Bolero Olympic success.<br /> <br /> It’s a fact we’re not easily allowed to forget along the way of this ice extravaganza, from the opening strains of Ravel’s classic right through to your very own commemorative “gold Olympic medal” found with every purchase of a souvenir programme at the Arena.<br /> <br /> Purple ensembles<br /> <br /> And then of course there are the ice dancing celebrities themselves – they all compete on each night of the tour for the chance to do their very own take on Torvill and Dean’s routine – complete with ubiquitous purple ensembles of course.<br /> <br /> Torvill and Dean themselves never fail to disappoint – they, more than any of the professionals or celebrities on this tour, are who truly epitomise the spirit of dancing on ice.<br /> <br /> Their Bolero that starts this fun family show still brings a tear to the eye.<br /> <br /> We go from the sublime to the ridiculous with the inclusion of Todd “Calamity” Carty among the line-up of celebrities, but he brings a heap of welcome laughter to this show with his bumbling routines. In fact he gets probably the biggest cheers on the opening night of this six-show stint at the Arena.<br /> <br /> Current champion<br /> <br /> But there’s no mistaking the true star of this celebrity line-up, the current champion of the ITV dance show, Ray Quinn.<br /> <br /> From the moment the golden boy bounds onto the huge ice rink, legs akimbo for a scintillating mid-air leg split, with the cries of: “Get your kit off” squealed from frisky females all around, you kind of sense the other ice stars barely stand a chance.<br /> <br /> He, and celebrities including popstar Jessica Taylor, ex-soap beauty Roxanne Pallett and Bury’s own celeb skate champ Suzanne Shaw, compete in the first half to win the judges’ approval (with the hope of those perfect "6.0" scores) and audience text votes.<br /> <br /> In a more fast-paced second half they all strut their stuff for a second dance each before we find out which two celebs will compete in the Bolero skate-off.<br /> <br /> X Factor star Ray has won every night of the show so far, and on this showing it’s hard to see how he will be beaten. But hey, it’s great fun watching them all try in this action-packed show.<br /> <br /> Torvill & Dean's Dancing On Ice is at the M.E.N. Arena until Sunday, April 19. Friday (7.30pm), Saturday (2.30pm, 7.30pm), Sunday (1.30pm, 6.30pm). £32.50 - £45. Call 0844 847 8000.<br />