Hello and welcome to Series 1 of 'The Twistathon On Ice'……………, the show which previously ran as “Twists & Sequins On Ice” for 5 series between 2011 and 2013.

This series, 12 new contestants have signed up and tonight, eagerly await to find out who will partner them for the duration of the series 5 forum members have been signed up for this series’ judging panel too, going back to the original format and therefore the original old school marking between 0.5 and 6.0 They will be making their first appearance in tonight’s launch ahead of the first show tomorrow

As with the real show, the couples will be split into two halves for the first two shows, before they all merge to perform in show 3 together However, as many will know, there are many twists along the way to contend with as well as the tasks for each round At the end of tonight’s launch show, we will know which 6 of our 12 contestants will be competing in the first round tomorrow and which 6 will take to the ice for the first time in show 2 on Friday

First up let’s meet the cast of Series 1 …………

He’s notorious for being first out on more occasions than some can remember, but he is also the champion of Twists & Sequins On Ice series 4, its Mitch (pothuthic)

He’s no stranger to the Strictly forums, but taking part on the Ice this time, is JJ (justj)

Fresh from winning The Strictly Twistathon Christmas Special, we have Jamie (DingDong08)

Another past Twists & Sequins On Ice winner now, but we haven’t seen him around for quite some time, please give it up for Niall (_NiallDEE_)

Our first newbie to the Ice games, but hoping not to be first out, its Myk (ChickenFromKiev)

He’s not the only newbie this series as we also welcome Alex (VesperVent)

She’s yet to win a trophy in the games forums throughout DS but she’s been so close on some occasions, please give a huge welcome for Eliza (puppylove7)

Also yet to win a trophy, but a well known name across DS, we have Ross (rosco2010)

We welcome our next newbie now as Rhian (RhiBi) takes to the Ice and hopes she can impress

He’s been absent from the games for a long time but making his come back in Twistathon On Ice, it’s Jack (jacksinclairx)

After many successful series on the Strictly forums, he’s now trying his hand, or should I say his feet, on competing on the ice, give it up for Stuart (Stuart25)

And last but by all means not least. Show some appreciation for contestant number 12, ..........Tom (hownwbrowncow)

So there are our 12 contestants for the series ……………

Alex (VesperVent)
Eliza (puppylove7)
Jack (jacksinclairx)
Jamie (DingDong08)
JJ (justj)
Mitch (pothuthic)
Myk (ChickenFromKiev)
Niall (_NiallDEE_)
Rhian (RhiBi)
Ross (rosco2010)
Stuart (Stuart25)
Tom (hownwbrowncow)

Now let’s see the pro skaters who will each join one of these contestants for the duration of the series …………

Alexandra Schaumann
Brianne Delcourt
Daniel Whiston
Frankie Poultney
Katie Stainsby
Kristina Lenko
Maria Filipov
Matt Evers
Melanie Lambert
Nina Ulanova
Robin Johnstone
Vicky Ogden

But before we find out who is paired with who, let’s meet our judging panel .................

He may be yet to claim a Twistathon crown, but he’s certainly claimed a few victories over on the Big Brother and Strictly forums. Its none other than Connor (ElectricBoy171)

The only female on the panel, the only female to win Strictly Twistathon since it was renamed, the only female to win Twists & Sequins’ Christmas Special and the only female (and only person in general) to have ever scored a perfect score from the entire judging panel since Twists & Sequins became Twistathon (so she’s definitely one to impress this series ) It’s Izzie (IzzieStar)

He won the last full series of The Strictly Twistathon, but now he’s here to judge The Twistathon On Ice. It is of course, Nick (winter99)

He won the “twist” in this years Strictly Twistathon Christmas Special, which meant he won a place in the Christmas Special final of Izzie’s “Strictly Confidential” which he then went on to WIN. Give it up for Jas’ (king yrcanos)

And the fifth addition to the judging panel is also well known on the Strictly forums and has been known to dabble on the Big Brother side of things too He is Dean (needsahotty87)

So there is the judging panel for the series …………

Connor (ElectricBoy171)
Dean (needsahotty87)
Izzie (IzzieStar)
Jas’ (king yrcanos)
Nick (winter99)

As well as the voting public, these are the people you really need to impress this series if you want to go far

Ok. It’s about time we started pairing our contestants and pro’s ..............

First up we have 3 guys. Namely Niall (_NiallDEE_), Jamie (DingDong08) and Jack (jacksinclairx)…………………

Niall, I can reveal that you will hopefully be skating to victory with………



Jamie………… Hoping to glide you all the way to the glitterball this series is……………



Jack………… Your partner in crime this series will be……………

So there are our first 3 pairings Onto Stuart (Stuart25) and Myk (ChickenFromKiev) ……………

Myk. Your first series on the Ice and taking you under their wing will be………………



Stuart………… Fighting for a place in the Twistathon On Ice final alongside you will be………

One of only two females of the competition, we have Eliza (puppylove7) and Mitch (pothuthic) up next………………

Mitch. You will take to the ice in a bid to impress the judges and the voting public with…………



Eliza…… Swinging you around the rink this series will be……………

One of our newbies now, we have Rhian (RhiBi) and JJ (justj)............

Rhian. For your first DS series and first time on the virtual ice rink, you will be paired with..............



JJ, ..........for you, hoping to claim victory with you this series is.............

9 down, just 3 more to go………… Ross (rosco2010), Tom (hownwbrowncow) and Alex (VesperVent)

Tom…… Could this be your series as you skate to impress with…………



Ross……… You’ll be creating a duo alongside…………



Which does of course mean that, Alex………Your partner for the series is of course…………

So there we have it, our 12 couples, ready and raring to go …………

Alex (VesperVent) & Melanie Lambert
Eliza (puppylove7) & Matt Evers
Jack (jacksinclairx) & Vicky Ogden
Jamie (DingDong08) & Nina Ulanova
JJ (justj) & Katie Stainsby
Mitch (pothuthic) & Maria Filipov
Myk (ChickenFromKiev) & Alexandra Schaumann
Niall (_NiallDEE_) & Brianne Delcourt
Rhian (RhiBi) & Daniel Whiston
Ross (rosco2010) & Robin Johnstone
Stuart (Stuart25) & Kristina Lenko
Tom (hownwbrowncow) & Frankie Poultney

But who has what it takes to go all the way in the competition and who will fall at the first hurdle?

Well........ 6 couples will be guaranteed not to be the dreaded first eliminee when they find out they are dancing in show 2 on Friday However the wait will be a little more tense for those couples, as the other 6 will take to the ice for the first time tomorrow. At least their wait is relatively short, but that does of course mean they are in danger of becoming the first eliminee and nobody wants to be the first to leave the competition

So let’s see who will be skating in which heat shall we? ........

Shows will air at around midday every Tuesday and Friday with the lines then opening and closing later that evening, The result show will then take place that same evening at 7:30pm unless otherwise stated A schedule for the series is below………

Series Schedule

Launch Show - Monday 6th Jan 2014
Show 1 - Tuesday 7th Jan 2014
Show 2 - Friday 10th Jan 2014
Show 3 - Tuesday 14th Jan 2014
Show 4 - Friday 17th Jan 2014
Show 5 - Tuesday 21st Jan 2014
Show 6 - Friday 24th Jan 2014
Show 7 - Tuesday 28th Jan 2014
Show 8 - Friday 31st Jan 2014
Semi Final - Tuesday 4th Feb 2014
GRAND FINAL - Friday 7th Feb 2014

I can now reveal, that the first 6 couples performing in show 1 tomorrow are…………………



Which means, skating in show 2 will be………



Our couples have already been given details for the first rounds and they have been sent off long ago to the 5 judges for marking. The judges receive the performances anonymously so they have no idea which song choice etc belongs to who. Exactly what was asked of our couples in the first round will be posted at the beginning of tomorrows show

I would also like to make aware a few general rules before the series really kicks off…………

Song choices work on a first come first served basis. If you choose a song that has already been picked by another contestant, you will be asked to select a different choice.

Failure to send a routine in before the deadline will result in a 10 point vote penalty when the lines are opened to the public

The main thing is to have fun. There will be twists along the way of which will be revealed to you during each round Someone does sadly have to be eliminated each round, so please don’t take it personally if you leave early. It has to be someone. Many people on here have competed in this series or similar series' on DS and been first out and then in a future series gone on to be the winner of the whole thing. So please don’t take it to heart if you don’t score too well in some rounds.

See you all tomorrow for the first show of the series where the first twist will also be revealed

Good luck all