Dancing On Ice judges reveal 'unlikely' star who could win whole show - The Mirror

Two of the Dancing On Ice judges have given their verdicts so far as well as tips for the skaters ahead of the weekend

Judges Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse have given their early verdicts about the Dancing On Ice contestants - urging them to "embrace" the show and praising one star as the "strongest" skater.

The second famous face will leave the ITV show on Sunday when the theme for this weekend's programme is 'Movie Week'.

Asked for her advice, judge and former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse said: "Embrace all of it. Absolutely embrace all of it. The lights, the cameras, the hard times, the bright times, the happy times, the frustration. All of it. Make sure that you embrace it because, again, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and you will never be in that moment ever again.

"There are some that are already starting at a good level, there is a middle category and there are some that still have a lot more growing to do."

Ashley, 36, added: "It is not clear cut who the really good people are and who the not so good ones are. I like it when it feels like a level playing field."

He then went on to praise TV host Michaela Strachan, 58, who is a surprise favourite to win the series.

Ashley said: "I'm really surprised at Michaela. I think that a lot of the time, there's always a young performer or an Olympian at the top of the leaderboard. But what I love about Michaela is that she isn't an Olympian. She was a performer in her younger years but it’s not like she has built her career on performing. She is in her fifties and to come out and just be the strongest skater, I think was such a refreshing thing. I was so excited by that."

Oti, 34, says she is also looking forward to seeing how the line up develops in the coming weeks on the rink.

She said: "I’m really excited we have our first Sir on ice in Sir Steve Redgrave! Do you know, in the previous series of Dancing on Ice, they have started off at a pretty similar level and they grow.

"This series, as some of you may have seen there are some that are already starting at a good level, there is a middle category and there are some that still have a lot more growing to do.

"But that’s nice because the audience knows the standard that the lower bunch need to reach. Can they get there? And if they do, those are the ones that succeed and do really, really well. So I’m looking forward to watching all of them perform. I’m also looking forward to the surprises, the ones that grow and take us on a journey."

Ashley thinks the best way the skaters can have success is to take risks. Asked for his advice, he said: "Just be fearless. I think at one point you have to admit that it's going to be hard.

It's going to hurt. You're going to be tired and you will probably fall - even if it's not on TV, it may be in training. So I would just say, be fearless. Get all of that stuff out of the way, get used to it, and just give it 100%!"

* Dancing On Ice continues Sunday at 6.25pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player

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