Dancing On Ice’s Vanessa Bauer ‘doubts’ she’s to blame for her celeb partners’ break-ups
DANCING On Ice pro Vanessa Bauer knows her sexy routines can enrage the girlfriends of her partners — but insists it’s all an act.
The beauty, 24, has seen three of her male celebrity skating buddies suffer break-ups after hitting the rink with her.
But she says none was down to her — and she is always keen to reassure any worried girlfriends.
Her partner on the upcoming series, Emmerdale’s Joe-Warren Plant, 18, split from his long-term girlfriend Nicole Hadlow, 24, late last year.
Vanessa, who has been training with Joe for three months, said: “I can understand why my partners’ girlfriends find it difficult. We spend so much time together rehearsing.
“We’re telling a story on the ice, and it’s nothing more than that, but you have to try to come across as genuine.
“It’s a performance but it’s created to make the love story real for the audience. We are acting on the ice.”
She added of their girlfriends: “I’m professional and I can’t stress that enough.
“I never want to know the ins and outs of my partners’ romantic relationships. It’s their business.
“As far as I’m concerned when my partners have split from their girlfriends I doubt it’s got anything to do with me.
"It’s irritating that I put so much hard work as a choreographer and coach on the show and the focus is on romance.”
In 2018, her first year, she won with Jake Quickenden, 32, who split with his fashion entrepreneur fiancée Danielle Fogarty, 27, a month later.
In 2019, she partnered Love Islander Wes Nelson, 22, who was then dumped by lover Megan Barton Hanson, 25, during the series.
German-born Vanessa said: “I’m still in touch with all of my partners. We are all very friendly.
"During the show you spend so much time with them, obviously you want to get along with them.
“Jake was the perfect first partner as he helped with the experience. It was my first time in the public eye.”
She went on: “It makes me the happiest person to see my celebrity fall in love with ice-skating, so I feel fulfilled when they start to enjoy training.
"My enthusiasm makes them more excited. Passion is the key to success on Dancing On Ice.”
As for Joe, Vanessa thinks the pair can make it to the final of the ITV show, which starts next Sunday.
She said: “Joe is a great student and I love teaching him.
“I know he respects me as a coach and that makes me very happy. None of my previous celebrity partners have been as dedicated as him.”
The Dancing On Ice cast have had limited rehearsal time for this series amid the Covid restrictions. But Vanessa is confident they will be ready for the first show.
She said: “Right now we only have two to three hours of skating. That’s all we are allowed at the start as it can be dangerous for beginners.
“But once the live shows start, when they have more control over their bodies, we up the training hours to eight hours if needed.”
She is tight-lipped about her love life, but has been quietly seeing personal trainer Rory McCall on and off since 2019.
Vanessa said: “I’m seeing someone but I like to keep this side of my life private, so I won’t say more other than that I am happy.”
She last saw her parents and brother in Berlin in the summer but missed them terribly over Christmas.
She said: “It was tough being away, as Christmas is so big in our family.
“I also found the first lockdown very challenging because the rinks were shut. It was the longest time off the ice for me. I was very upset.”
Vanessa’s parents relied on social welfare to bring up her and her brother.
She has been skating since she was four and wanted to be in the Olympics.
But she developed bulimia at 11 amid the pressure and was kicked out.
She said: “A therapist told me I wasn’t allowed on the ice. It made at all worse.”
After taking time out, Vanessa – a qualified personal trainer and yoga teacher – skated on cruise ships, where she fell in love again with performing.
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She said: “I’m so happy I found my body confidence. I’ve overcome a terrible eating disorder.
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“I love getting dressed up and putting make-up on for photoshoots and on the ice. I’m a showgirl.”
- DANCING On Ice, Sunday, 6pm, hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, with judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, John Barrowman and Ashley Banjo also returning.
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