UK NEWS

STARS GET THEIR SKATES ON FOR AN ICE LITTLE EARNER

GREAT SHAPE: Linda will face tough competition

Tuesday January 8,2008

By Elisa Roche Showbusiness Editor

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LINDA Lusardi will don a tight lycra costume for the latest series of Dancing On Ice, proving that she is still fabulous at 49.

The former glamour model and Emmerdale actress, who turns 50 in September, is still in great shape and has been practising hard – despite an ankle injury – for the ITV show which begins on Sunday.

The stars are said to be getting between £25,000 and £60,000, depending on their celebrity status.

Proving that ice life begins at 40, Lusardi will go up against fellow ex-Blue Peter presenter Sarah Greene, 47, and Aggie MacKenzie, 52, of How Clean Is Your House? fame.

But they will face stiff competition from a trio of younger stars. Singer Samantha Mumba, 24, TV presenter Natalie Pinkham, 29, and actress Suzanne Shaw, 26, have youth on their side in the strenuous show which has already seen Lusardi injured.

“I broke my ankle in practice,” she said at a launch for the show at London’s Natural History Museum yesterday. “I was stepping backwards on the ice when I fractured a bone, so now I wear padding all the time. I don’t care what I look like.”

Pop star Gareth Gates, 23, and actor Chris Fountain, 20, are the youngest contestants this year.

Retired athlete Steve Backley, 38, tennis star Greg Rusedski, 34, and TV presenters Tim Vincent, 35, and Michael Underwood, 32, complete the line-up. ITV are hoping the third series of the talent show could net record viewing figures.

Last year’s final pulled in an audience of 13million as rugby player Kyran Bracken took the ice-skating crown.

The Dancing On Ice rink has been purpose-built for the extravagant production at Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, at an estimated cost of £70,000.

Former Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have returned to coach the stars this series and are both being paid an undisclosed amount. TV stars Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will again host the show.

The full line-up of stars will take to the ice rink for the first time in front of an audience on Sunday from 5.50pm on ITV1.