There will be two Christmas specials from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ this year.
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‘Strictly Come Dancing On Ice’
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A new yuletide extravaganza with Strictly Come Dancing On Ice as six celebrity contestants put on their skates to bring viewers some chilly thrills and spills.

No doubt Bruce's catch phrase will be...
“Ice to see you, to see you ice!”

Contestants so far: Gazza, Scarlett Johnson (Vicki Fowler, EastEnders) Others to be confirmed

Because of the success of the Strictly Come Dancing Idea, ITV have decided to do their own version of an ice show.

Stars on Thin Ice will be fronted by former Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who will become rivals as they attempt to train two teams of sequin-clad rivals in the art of ice-dancing

The new series comes just weeks after it emerged that BBC1 was making a Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special - also on ice. Like Strictly Come Dancing, Stars on Thin Ice will see one celebrity voted off the show every week.

Like the BBC1 show, they will learn a new routine every week under the tutelage of a professional coach.
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‘Champion of Champions’
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The second yuletide offering will be a Champion of Champions special, featuring the best contestants from the first and second series. Series one winners Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole are already confirmed for the show.

EastEnders star Scarlett Johnson (Vicki Fowler) has been thoroughly enjoying her preparation lessons for Strictly Come Dancing on Ice.

She told The Mirror, "I always wanted to learn to ice-skate and this is obviously a great opportunity to be taught by a pro. I enjoyed my first lesson but I know it's going to get a lot harder."

The Strictly Come Dancing spinoff will air for a one-off episode this Christmas, and will feature Paul Gascoigne, Carol Smillie, and Liberty X star Jessica Taylor.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds17282.html

orr only for one episode.

ZZZZZZZ... at the celebs who are taking part

I wonder which celebs will be back for the Champions special?

Maybe Leslie Garrett and her beloved Anton? Looks like Christopher Park will be out though what with recent events

Natasha and Brendan
Lesley and Anton
Martin and Erin
Denise and Ian
Aled and Lilia
Jill and Darren

Are whos taking part in the Xmas Special.

xx

Ooh! Thanks! Good to see Aled will be back!!!

Will be interesting to see where Natasha and Brendan place again....

I think you should all vote for Anton and lesley...they are by far the best (outside of Natasha and brendan) but they have already won something and so deserve to win the CDO!!! Vote Anton & Lesley!!

Nat
xxx

Hi Nat, fancy seeing you here!! You are quite correct in your posting- Anton and Lesley deserve to win the Christmas Special. I would be so happy if they won. Please remember to vote wisely- Vote Anton and Lesley.

Oh now I'm torn! Im a Denise and Ian fan but also a Natasha and Brendon and Leslie and Anton fan! Argh!!!!!!!!!! What do I do now?! *Looks around all nervous and twitchy* oh well I guess I'll just vote for who dances best on the night.............but they're all so good! *Gets nervous and twitchy again*

http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0...163135,00.html

Paul Gascoigne was left in agony after injuring his neck while training to be a TV show ice ace, it has emerged.

Gazza was taken to hospital after repeatedly falling on the rink as he practised for BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing Boxing Day special.

The 37-year-old former football star was being trained by a professional ice dancer in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, when the accident happened.

Docs at London's Princess Grace Hospital have now ordered him to undergo a series of scans, according to The Sun.

But worried Beeb producers are considering ex-England goalkeeper David Seaman as a reserve in case Gazza does not recover in time.

A source told the paper: "Paul has had a series of nasty falls while training for the special.

"He has been determined to do well and has so far been pushing himself quite hard, He ended up in agony and had difficulty standing up straight or lifting objects.

"He was complaining of a lot of pain in his neck. He spent the weekend in hospital and doctors have run a series of tests to establish whether there has been serious damage."

Paul Gascoigne has been forced to quit the Christmas special of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing because of a back injury he claims was caused by his friend Jimmy “Five Bellies” Gardner.

He will be replaced on the Boxing Day ice-skating show by another ex-England star, former goalkeeper David Seaman.

Gazza checked himself into a London hospital after his gruelling training regime for Strictly Ice Dancing took its toll.

The 37-year-old, who has suffered a string of injuries in his career, said he was “gutted” to have to drop out.

His replacement, Seaman, 41, joked: “I always seem to be stepping in to help Gazza – this isn’t the first time.

“I’ve done a bit of ice-hockey in the past but nothing that can prepare me for figure skating.”

Gascoigne, who has had scans at London’s Princess Grace Hospital, said: “I’m obviously gutted that I’m not going to win Strictly Ice Dancing.”

He laid the blame at the door of his best friend, adding: “The problem is I’ve been training with Jimmy Five Bellies as well as my professional partner, and we kept arguing over who would be Torvill and who would be Dean.

“In trying to lift him, a terrible accident occurred and I fell crushed to the ice. Unlike Jane Torvill, he’s 16 stone.”

Seaman will now take his place alongside the likes of Liberty X’s Jessica Taylor and EastEnders actress Scarlett Johnson.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3854858

VOTE ANTON AND LESLEY!!! I have even had correspondence from them both saying how much they want to win and would appreciate every vote!!! It is only justice that they win!!!!!!!

VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!

Nat
xxx

Ur sheer Anton and Lesley craziness has swayed me! What do u mean uv had correspondace. Do share!

I got an email off Monsieur Du Beke saying

"Bonjour, Anton here! Lesley and I would be thrilled if you
would vote for us, we return to Strictly Come Dancing to seek our
revenge and win this time!

Special love

from Anton"

and then also an email off Lesleys PA saying

"Dear Nathalie

Thank you so much for the lovely email, and Lesley has only one response.....
yes please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both Anton and Lesley will appreciate each vote.

Many thanks

Ania
PA to Lesley Garrett"

because I asked her to tell her we were starting up a campaign!!!

VOTE FOR ANTON AND LESLEY!!!!

Nat
xxx

So you see people, Anton and Lesley have spoken to their fans and would love for you to vote for them. How can you consider not doing after those lovely messages?

I love the fact that Nat's Anton and Lesley craziness has swayed you Lutonarethebest. Nat is doing a fine job in the campaiging stakes, promoting Anton and Lesley to win. I am joining her in her mission, as I believe that Anton and Lesley should win, deserve to win, and will win if the public do the decent thing and vote for them. Remember you can make a difference- VOTE ANTON AND LESLEY- if you want to see justice done.

Cool! I love the typical "Antonness" of the replay!

anton and lesley to win!!! not a fan of lesley but anton is coolio

There are two obvious reasons why Lesley should win, but I'm not saying any more...

Confused. In my Xmas guide it says for the Champions of Champions 'Natasha Kaplinksy and Brendan Cole go head to head with the winners of the second series to be crowned Strictly Come Dancing Champion Of Champions.' or something like that.

Is just said on the ad after the final that Lesley and Anton, Chris and Hanna, Natasha and Brendan, Julian and Erin, Denise and Ian and Jill and Darren will be taking part in the "Champion Of Champions"

If it comes down to Jill and Darren vs Natasha and Brendan, i'm definately voting for Jill and Darren. They are brilliant and I like them more than Natasha and Brendan.

Yeah that advert at the end totally confused me. As Julian is meant to be doing Panto so couldnt do Xmas special and Chris Parker had 'work' commitments. So Erin was dancing with Martin and Aled and Lilia were taking Chris and Hannas spot!!! Very Weird.

My vote will be going to Natasha and Brendan

Jill and Darren for the double please!

Yeah Jill & Darren they are much better than Natasha & Brendan, personality, looks and dance wise!