Skating on thin ice? Stars sparkle in Dancing on Ice Live tour

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Torvill and Dean worked their magic on a rapt audience

Three series later and Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were still wowing the audiences with nimble routines while we cheered on ten celebrities as they stumbled and shone, supported by professional partners.

But could they work their magic in a live show, where they couldn't rely on edited highlights? Or were they, pardon the pun, skating on thin ice? I (selflessly) volunteered to find out...

Dancing on Ice sells itself as a family show and as the lights dimmed in the packed auditorium at Wembley I could see rows of eager faces from toddlers to pensioners.

Torvill and Dean opened the show to the sounds of 'I'm coming out' and moved together with the ease of a twenty-year partnership.

Then it was time to meet the contestants who were drawn from all three TV series. As in the show they each performed a short routine and were marked out of six by the judges.

Current stars Suzanne Shaw and wonder boy Chris Fountain skated alongside old favourites Kyran Bracken and Bonnie Langford.

The stars wore copious amounts of fake tan for the show

"What you can't do with those legs is not worth doing!" Jayne told Bonnie, 43, after she completed some eye-popping lifts.

Former ice hockey player Fountain owned the rink after he made a solo show-stopping entrance. But it was rugby player Kyran Bracken who had the skating edge. He and his partner Mel pulled-off a smooth and lyrical performance. He even pulled off his body-popping caterpillar later on in the show. The routines were by no means flawless with David Seaman and Linda Lusardi struggling to stay upright, but then the show was always about the spirited attempt rather than the execution.

But where were 'bad boy' judge Jason's one-line zingers? The king of the catty catchphrase had toned down his criticisms to the point of blandness and I missed the pantomime villain.

During the interval the audience were encourage to vote for their favourites by text (we were promised all profits would go to charity).

A series of slick professional dances followed while we were waiting for the votes to be counted. They were hampered a little by the small ice rink but this allowed the crowds to be closer to the action.

Jayne Torvill pulled out a magical performance with Christopher Dean where she flew on a wire. Then a clever mirror image routine from Frankie, Christina, Matt and Daniel simply stole the show (as did Frankie's beautiful black catsuit).

Bolero time and Chris and Kyran were chosen to battle it out in purple costumes. Kyran gave an assured performance but the trophy was awarded to Chris. I had been bitterly disappointed when Chris came runner-up in the latest TV final and it was nice to see my favourite raise the ice trophy ? if only for one special night.

The Dancing on Ice tour has dates in Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield this month. Tickets are £32.50. For more information visit www.dancingonicetour.co.uk

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