I don’t have an advantage on Dancing On Ice because of Strictly and I’m terrified of the headbanger, says Rachel Stevens

RACHEL Stevens has denied that her Strictly Come Dancing success will give her an advantage on Dancing On Ice.

The former S Club 7 star, 43, finished Strictly in second place with pro Vincent Simone in 2008.

But Rachel claims her time on the BBC show will not put her ahead of her fellow DOI contestants when she takes to the rink.

Speaking ahead of her skating debut, Rachel also slammed suggestions that performing for years in a pop group will also put her at an advantage.

She says: "It's a very different type of performance from being on stage on TV as a pop group. Then you add the ice element into it and it's a whole new ballgame.

"Before Strictly I’d never danced with a partner, it was always as a group and I’ve never had any formal dance training.

"If anything it's the opposite because people expect you to know what you are doing, but I think we all start at the same place with something like this. "

Rachel has also insisted she is unable to pick up choreography quickly.

"No, I don't think I can," she adds: "I think it will take me a while.

"Once I get it then I’m like ‘done, great’ but I don’t pick it up super quickly.

"I can be quite tough on myself sometimes because I'm that person that’s like I should know it right away but I just don’t."

'FILLED WITH FEAR'

Rachel has been partnered with Brendyn Hatfield for this year's series of Dancing On Ice.

They will be hoping to impress the ice panel - Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and new judge Oti Mabuse - alongside 11 other celebrities and their skating partners.

Rachel, who has two daughters with her husband Alex Bourne, has described herself as a "perfectionist" and "naturally competitive".

But she is terrified of one thing - the infamous Headbanger.

The risky move sees skaters swinging their partner's around by their feet, with their heads skimming dangerous close to the ice.

Rachel admits: "The headbanger fills me with fear.

"I’m fine with heights but it's one of those things, until you actually do it you don’t know. I have no idea how I'm going to be and how I’m going to feel.

"All I know is, I want to go for it and have fun. That's the thing. I’ve always been quite a perfectionist but with this I really want to go for it.

"It's about having a laugh and having fun learning a new skill along the way."

Dancing On Ice kicks off on ITV1 at 6.30pm on Sunday January 16, 2022