The live final of Dancing On Ice 2021 is now tantalising close with the remaining contestants eagerly eyeing up the winning trophy after weeks of drama on the disaster-struck show.
ITV producers were forced to slash the number of episodes this year when a number of celebrities dropped out with injuries and positive covid tests.
With the end now firmly in sight, Olympian Colin Jackson, rapper Lady Leshur, Ex Coronation Street star Faye Brookes and Capital DJ Sonny Jay are working towards the final hurdle.
The overall winner will join an illustrious list of former champions who have gone on to career highs after braving one of TV’s most dangerous reality shows.
We take a look back at all the previous stars who were awarded the title and what happened next…
Joe Swash – 2020
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock)
Joe Swash was the surprise winner of 2020, with even the former EastEnder star boldly claiming he’s the worst Dancing on Ice champion ever.
The pandemic put the breakers on Joe doing anything major after his win but he has made huge steps in his personal life.
After spending lockdown with girlfriend Stacey Solomon, Joe popped the question on a Christmas Eve walk with the pair now planning to get hitched with two weddings this year.
James Jordan -2019
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan jumped ship to ITV in 2019 where he put his dancing skills to good use with partner Alexandra Schauman.
James was a natural on the ice and saw off competition from Love Island’s Wes Nelson in the final.
A year after his win, James welcomed his first child with wife Ola Jordan following ITV treatment.
Jake Quickenden – 2018
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
After doing the rounds of the reality TV circuit – X Factor and I’m A Celebrity – Jake signed on to the ITV skating show and went all the way to the final.
His triumph came after the show returned to our screens after a five year hiatus.
Jake went on big things following his win after landing a part in Hair The Musical and securing a number of presenting jobs.
He also used his expertise to lead the male stars on The Real Full Monty on Ice last year to raise money for a cause close to his heart.
While his career took off after the skating show, Jake’s personal life took a hit when he split with fiancée of seven months Danielle Fogarty weeks after the final having spent three years together.
At the time it was reported that the pair had been locked in a series of explosive rows over Jake’s partying with his Dancing On Ice co-star Kem Cetinay leaving Danielle distraught.
He later moved on with now girlfriend Sophie Church, with the pair welcoming a son together last month.
Beth Tweddle -2013
(Image: PA)
Olympic gymnast Beth made TV history back in 2013.
She skated to victory on with Daniel Whiston, making it the third time the professional had won the show with a celebrity.
Three years after her win, Beth took part in another winter sports reality show – Channel’s The Jump.
However, two weeks into the show she crashed out of the competition – quite literally – after hitting a barrier in training leading to her being air-lifted to hospital.
Beth, who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic games, fractured her vertebrae and had to undergo surgery on her neck and spinal cord.
In 2019 she announced plans to sue the makers of The Jump for £200,000 in damages for her injuries.
Matthew Wolfenden -2012
(Image: ITV)
Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden lifted the coveted trophy with his partner Nina Ulanova in 2012 after beating soap rival Jorgie Porter and X Factor’s Chico Slimani in the final.
Following his win, Matthew continued to appear as David Metcalfe in the ITV soap where he continues to be a regular cast member.
Outside of soapland, Matthew wed his real life partner and co-star Charley Webb in 2018 with the pair welcoming three sons together.
Sam Attwater – 2011
(Image: ITV)
Former EastEnders’ actor Sam won the sixth series of the show where he was partnered up with professional Vicky Ogden.
The pair had undeniable chemistry and fell head over heels for each other as their weeks on the show passed by.
They became the first DOI couple to tie the knot in 2014.
In February 2016 Vick announced they were expecting a child and Rosie was born the same year.
In 2019, the pair welcomed a second daughter Daisy.
As they grew their family, Sam and Vicky found time to appear in the special All Stars series of the skating show where they finished in fourth place.
Since his win, Sam has starred in a number of West End productions, including Dreamboats & Petticoats.
Hayley Tamaddon – 2010
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Former soap star Hayley and professional Dan Whitson won the public vote in 2010 – making Dan the first to scoop the prize twice.
Before signing up to the show, Hayley was best known for playing Del Dingle in Emmerdale from 2005 until 2007.
After her win she returned to the soaps, this time appearing as Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street.
She stayed in Wetherfield for two years but left when her character left the cobbles alongside partner Lloyd, played by Craig Charles.
Her decision to leave came after Hayley was hospitalised in 2014, saying the pressure of working on Corrie and taking part in the Dancing On Ice became too much for her.
Hayley had reason to celebrate in 2019 when she announced she was pregnant with her first child with boyfriend Adrian.
She gave birth to a son in October the same year.
Ray Quinn – 2009
The former X Factor star has undergone a total body transformation since fans last saw him get his skates on more than ten years ago.
In 2009 Ray wowed the Dancing On Ice judges in 2009 and triumphed with Maria Filippov as he became the first celeb skater to backflip on the ice.
Unsurprisingly, Ray was also voted the champion of the show’s All Stars version five years later with his skills unparallelled by his rivals.
Ray went on to perform as Danny Zuko in Grease, Billy Kosteki in Dirty Dancing and Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde. Ray was also cast as the title character in the new Aladdin musical in 2012.
He also appeared as right-wing extremist Jonny Baxter in Hollyoaks in 2018.
Suzanne Shaw – 2008
(Image: Rex)
It has been quite a ride for former Hear’Say star Suzanne since she stepped foot on the ice.
After winning with Matt Evers 13 years ago, she went on to perform in a number of West End productions including Chicago, The Vagina Monologues and White Christmas.
She also dipped her toe into TV acting when she appeared as Edna Birch’s granddaughter Eve in Emmerdale in 2010, but left a year later.
Suzanne split from husband Jason King in 2012. She gave birth to her second son, and first with Sam, in 2015. She is also mum to Corey, 15, with ex-partner Darren Day.
Kyran Bracken -2007
(Image: Rex)
The scrum-half stepped out of his comfort zone and skated to victory in 2007, becoming the first male celebrity to take the crown with partner Melanie Lambert.
The ex England rugby star is now a big family man.
He and wife Victoria have three sons together – Charlie, Jack and Lochlan.
Since winning the show, he toured with Holiday on Ice in their show Romanza and even returned for the All Stars version of Dancing On Ice in 2014, finishing fifth.
Gaynor Faye – 2006
The former soap star lit up the first ever show and it helped her on her way to some big things.
Gaynor was crowned the first queen of the ice back in 2006 with Dan Whiston, who has since become the show’s Associate Creative Director.
While Gaynor went on to appear in the stage adaptation of Calendar Girls in the West End and starred in TV series The Chase.
Of course Emmerdale fans will know her best as Megan Macey in the ITV soap, which she starred in from 2011 until 2019.
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dancing-ice-winners-now-secret-23606439