Brooke Vincent skates into Dancing on Ice final with tribute to Manchester Arena

Debbie Manley | 4th March 2018

Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent is in the FINAL of ITV’s Dancing on Ice on Sunday 11 March at 6pm – with reality TV star Jake Quickenden and rugby player Max Evans.

Brooke, 25, who plays Sophie Webster, wowed the judges by dancing to Ariana Grande’s One Last Time, remembering the Manchester Arena tragedy on 22 May 2017 when 23 people died as the result of a terrorist attack.

She said she wanted to do Manchester proud – and she did just that – she will be in the Dancing on Ice final on Sunday 11 March on ITV at 6pm.

But she still looked shocked when she heard she was in the final, covered her face and then turned to hug her skating partner Matej Silecky.

After she’d danced her second dance, she said: “I have such a good time. Honestly, Jayne you make it look so easy being out there, keeping strong and looking elegant. Trust me, I looked like a  sack of spuds four weeks ago.  I really had to try and learn. It is so, so hard. I really respect you for that.”

It worked – Brooke scored 8.5 from Jason Gardner, Ashley Banjo and Jayne Torvill. But all that was topped by Christopher Dean’s nine, taking her to 34.5 points out of 40, beating her score on her first dance.

Dancing on Ice

The score for her second dance at the Dancing on Ice semi-final

 

Such a contrast to tears in rehearsals for the semi-final of Dancing on Ice

Jayne said: “For me that was my favourite routine that you have done so far. It had speed and flow. Like you said, you had so much fun and that came across. Well done.”

Chris said: “You did yourself and Manchester proud tonight. That’s for sure. As Jayne said, the speed over the ice and the confidence that you had. What I loved was that you were enjoying it. You didn’t look down at your feet.

“You had a little stumble here and there but the confidence that you got out of that, from that spin and that little bit at the end, I loved it.”

Jason said: “I dare say that this routine was one of your best because it showed that you have so much invested in it. If we are moving you into the final and I dare say you will secure a place is that you have to own those moments in the air because he has got you solid, I wanted to see more, you needed to lift that more.”

Ashley said: “Guys what I love was the choreography was great and there are elements that we haven’t seen over the past nine weeks of the series. So it must be really hard to bring in elements we haven’t seen before and compete successfully. I think after that everyone in Manchester will be behind you, so well done.”

Brooke scored 33 points with her first dance, her highest score at that point in the series, dancing to Who Do You Think You Are by the Spice Girls, wearing a Geri “Ginger Spice” style Union Jack costume.

Brooke said: “It’s been really, really fun.It’s like re-living my childhood. You’ve just got to have fun haven’t you.”

Jayne said: “I can’t believe the confidence you’ve got in the last two weeks. I was so impressed that you took off there on your solo skate with lots of speed. It just let you down because you needed a bit more difficulty, a bit more confidence, but overall it was great.”

Chris said: “Five weeks ago, I wouldn’t think you were going to be here. But three weeks ago something turned around and your skating got better and better. The solo skate wasn’t the best but I love the partnership you are forming with Matej.”

Brooke joked: “I’m definitely a pairs girl.”

 

The scores for her first dance in the Dancing on Ice semi-final

There were boos from the audience when Jason said: “I agree. I think this was a solid concept. I loved it. One I think isn’t a stretch for you. I thought the choreography was great up until the solo skate. Obviously this is a challenge we needed to see and it lacked content. Content that we know you are more than capable of.”

Ashley brought tears to Brooke’s eyes when he said: “Out of everyone in the competition, you have grown the most. To be here in the semi-final and to maintain that confidence and energy you had a few weeks ago. I know how hard this solo skate must have been for you.”

Her co-star Samia Longchambon, who plays hairdresser Maria on Coronation Street, was quick to congratulate her saying she was bringing “girl power” to Dancing on Ice.