Dancing on Ice unlikely star revealed as shock new favourite to win

A NEW contender to lift the Dancing on Ice trophy has emerged.

The hit ITV show launched last Sunday with some of Britain's biggest TV stars.

While Team GB star Nile Wilson dazzled the judges on Dancing on Ice with his fancy footwork, another contender is the secret underdog who could even win the show.

Former TOWIE legend Joey Essex has left his co-stars stunned by just how talented he is on the ice led by stunning co-star Vanessa Bauer.

"Joey Essex has surprised me," said skate pro Matt Evers.

He added: "He's already doing tricks we see half-way through the series."

Speaking in his Best magazine column, Matt, who made history in the show's first same-sex couple, praised Joey for being such a gent.

Matt, partnered up with EastEnders legend Patsy Palmer, said: "Knowing him from TOWIE, I expected him to embody that cheeky chappy persona. But he doesn't. He comes into work. He's very cordial, 'Good morning, how are you?' and gets on with it.

"And Joey and Vanessa's routine was great."

Meanwhile Ekin-Su sent Love Island fans wild with a cheeky reference to the show during Dancing On Ice.

There was a sneaky reference to one of her iconic villa moments during her debut routine on the ITV juggernaut.

Eagle-eyed Love Island devotees noticed the 28 year-old crawled across the ice as she performed with partner Brendyn Hatfield.

And fans couldn't help but notice how it was a nod to her "iconic crawl" from her stint on the ITV2 show.

As viewers will remember, Ekin crawled across the balcony when she went to steal a secret kiss with fellow islander Jay Younger.

She performed the sneaky move at the time to stop Davide Sanclimenti, who she was coupled up with, from seeing her.

Of course, her secret was soon exposed and she and Davide had an explosive confrontation, where he branded her "an actress and a liar."