Dancing On Ice’s The Vivienne Admits Doing The Show Is More Stressful Than Drag Race
Standing on the ice is hard enough! Dancing On Ice’s The Vivienne admits that doing the show is more stressful than Drag Race, as she details that she feels “pressure” to perfect her moves.
Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne has admitted that taking part in the skating show is more stressful than competing in RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The 30-year-old Drag Queen, whose real name is James Lee Williams, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019 and then returned to the All Stars shows last year.
And speaking ahead of making her skate debut when the ITV show returns on Sunday, Vivienne joked that “standing on the ice is pretty tough” and detailed that she feels “pressure” to perfect her routines.
Scary: Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne has admitted that taking part in the skating show is more stressful than competing in RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Asked which of her two shows was more stressful, the TV star told MailOnline and other outlets: ‘Dancing On Ice! We’re used to being on a stage made of wood, not frozen water!’
He went on to talk about the difficulties of training and the expectations of getting the steps right: ‘Standing on ice is bad enough, let alone dancing on it too!
‘I mean, you have your show on a skate on your head and you work very hard on it. And then you forget, oh my gosh, in the second week we have five days to learn a whole new routine!
Success: The Drag Queen, 30 – real name James Lee Williams – won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, then returned to take part in the All Stars shows last year (pictured in 2019)
‘So the pressure of that, you know, the nation is watching. And we have to do it all in front of Torvill and Dean, the absolute legends of the skating world! It’s a lot of pressure.
‘So I just want to take it week by week. Hopefully we’ll do it week by week.’
The star went on to detail that there’s nothing to hide when it comes to getting intricate skating moves just right for the judges.
It’s not easy: Vivienne joked that “standing on the ice is hard enough” and detailed that she feels “pressure” to perfect her routines (pictured with fellow pro Colin Grafton)
No doubt: When asked which of her two shows was more stressful, the TV star told MailOnline and other outlets: ‘Dancing on ice! We’re used to being on a stage made of wood, not frozen water!’
She said: ‘Skating is a skill that, you know, a spin of three is a spin of three. If you don’t do a three twist or a mohawk or a certain movement, they’re going to see how well you execute it.
‘Sure it has its own flavor, but it’s a skill we’re learning that they’re looking for. We have to deliver. There’s no, there’s no skating around that!’
And while the training has been tough, Vivienne has recounted how she “fell in love” with skating, while also praising fellow pro Colin Grafton.
Difficult: ‘I mean, you have your program in your head and you work very hard. And then you forget, oh my gosh, in week two we have five days to learn a whole new routine!
Hard going: ‘Sure it has its own flavor, but it’s a skill we’re learning that they’re looking for. We have to deliver. There’s no, there’s no skating around that!’ (pictured in training)
She explained: ‘I’ve become obsessed with skating. You know, my husband wants to sit and watch the Hollyoaks bus and I want to sit and watch the world champion skate!
‘I’m even putting on my slippery socks and sliding across the kitchen on the wooden floor!
“I fell in love with skating and I have a lot of respect for the pros and what they do, and you know I’m sure we’ll all give our best to our pros, but Colin is just fantastic.” We both have formed such a good bond.
Dancing on Ice returns Sunday January 15 at 6:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Big fan: “I fell in love with skating and I have a lot of respect for the pros and what they do, and you know, I’m sure we’re all going to say the best about our pros, but Colin is just fantastic.” We both have formed such a good bond’
DANCING ON ICE 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
PATSY PALMER
YEARS: fifty
PROFESSION: actress and dj
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: “I’ve turned it down before because I was terrified, but when I turned 50 I made a pact to get out of my confrontation zone. ‘
EKIN-SU CULCULOGLU
YEARS: 28
PROFESSION: love island star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I have incredible news to tell you. I’m so excited, I can’t wait to get on the ice and skate. Stay tuned and see you on the ice.
mollie gallagher
YEARS: 24
PROFESSION: Actress
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: “I don’t have the best coordination, so when people find out they’ll laugh, but I don’t want to spend my life saying ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do that’.”
JOEY ESSEX
YEARS: 32
PROFESSION: Former TOWIE star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited. I wanted something in my life with structure and it’s more serious than I usually do.’
carley stenson
YEARS: 36
PROFESSION: Actress and West End star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited to be able to learn to dance…on ice! I’m terrified but I can’t wait, I just want to make the most of this whole experience.”
SIVA KANESWARAN
AGE: 33
PROFESSION: Singer
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: “I want to learn to skate and make my family proud of me and put on a show for all to see.”
John Fashanu
YEARS: 60
PROFESSION: Former footballer and expert
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m definitely in it to win it. And this may be one of the scariest things I’ve ever signed up for, but I couldn’t be more up for the challenge!’
NILE WILSON
YEARS: 26
PROFESSION: olympic gymnast
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I haven’t ice skated a lot, but I’m very excited for the opportunity. I’m so excited to get into that routine and feel like an athlete again.’
JAMES LEE WILLIAM AKA LA VIVIENNE
YEARS: 29
PROFESSION: drag queen
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: “To be the first drag performer to take part in one of the UK’s biggest reality competitions is an honor and a big step forward for queer representation on television.’
DARREN HARRIOT
PROFESSION: Funny
YEARS: 3. 4
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I have giant feet, I don’t skate and I can’t dance. My family has already placed bets, they are betting that I will fall in the first episode!
MICHELLE HEATON
AGE: 43
PROFESSION: Singer
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: “I’ve always wanted to do it, but I know I never would have been able to complete anything because of the shape I was in 18 months ago, so I’m really thankful that I got it done this year when I’m here.” much stronger.