Dancing On Ice 2010: profile of Kieron Richardson

KIERON RICHARDSON

AGE: 23

OCCUPATION: HOLLYOAKS ACTOR

SKATING PARTNER: BRIANNE DELCOURT

“When I get nervous my legs turn like jelly - and jelly and ice don't really mix do they?'

Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson says he's been beefing up for his new role on the ice because he doesn't want to drop his skating partner.

'My partner Brianne is making me go to the gym everyday to work on my arms and upper body strength to help me with my lifts because I was panicking about that,' explains Kieron.

'The first time I met Brianne she jumped on me straight away and I thought: 'Phew, I can lift her' but it was still a bit wobbly. But lifting someone on the ice and skating at the same time, keeping your body upright and trying not to look totally panicked on your face is a whole different ball game. So I need to have the strength be able to get those lifts right and do it with confidence. Because if I drop her and she breaks something, I've ruined her career forever. So there's a lot of pressure there for me to get it right.

'I've really enjoyed training but at first I thought I was going to be terrible because my stamina and strength aren't very good as I never used to go to the gym and didn't do any kind of exercise whatsoever. I was like a slob at home and would just sit there shovelling food down my neck in front of the TV. So it has been completely alien to me having to train on the ice and at the gym everyday and doing all these exercises as well which are absolutely killing me. My life now consists of going to work at Hollyoaks, then the ice rink, then the gym and basically trying to catch a few hours sleep in between before it all starts again the next day.

'I really didn't think it would be as hard work as it is. I hadn't expected the training to be so intense and I didn't think I'd be doing it every single day. I was expecting just a couple of hours each week. How naive was I, eh?

There's been so much information that I've had to take in and I picked it up quite easily at the start. But now I feel like I've hit a wall. I don't seem to be picking anything up anymore which I'm worried about as the live shows are looming. But I'm quietly confident about our routine for the first show. I've got it in my head, the only thing is it's a bit sloppy so I just need to work on tidying it up. My only issue now about when we go live is my nerves. Because when I get nervous my legs turn like jelly and jelly and ice don't really mix - do they?'

So, thanks to his new fitness regime is Kieron now looking all buffed-up in his ice costume? He laughs: 'Put it this way, there is not an inch of flab on me. It's just mainly skin and bones and there's still absolutely no sign of toning or definition! Actually, I tried my costume on for the first time yesterday and I thought I was going to hate it. When I saw it hanging there on the rail I was like: 'There is no way I'm wearing that!' Mainly because it was fuchsia pink, it was just hilarious. The costume guy said well at least you're the first person to get the pink out of the way and I tried it on and do you know what, I like it now...it brings out my eyes,' he adds, grinning.

In order to hone his skating technique Kieron reveals he's been glued to the internet watching Dancing On Ice clips as well taking tips from another former Hollyoaks contestant.

'I've spoken to Chris Fountain a few times and he said the most important thing of all is to try and enjoy everything because it's a great experience. He also said not to panic too much because the live shows aren't as scary as they look. Anyway, I've already decided that if I do fall over on the live show I'm just going to lie there and pretend I'm practising for the Bolero. I'll just pretend I got confused and thought I was in the final!'

'To win would be amazing but in my head I can't ever see that happening, because I've been watching people's performances from previous years on YouTube for weeks and weeks now and each week they get better and better – people like Ray Quinn, Chris Fountain and Gareth Gates. I just can't see myself being that good.