Magic ends as Hanlin leaves Dancing on Ice

BEN Hanlin (inset) is the latest celebrity to be eliminated from Dancing On Ice ahead of next week’s final.

He and professional partner Carlotta Edwards lost a skate-off against Paralympian Libby Clegg and Mark Hanretty, after the celebrities took to the ice twice for yesterday’s semi-final.

Although judge John Barrowman chose to save the magician, Christopher Dean cast the deciding vote as head judge and put Clegg through to next week.

In the skate-off, professional Edwards appeared to stumble as they performed to Tom Walker’s song Leave a Light On. After stepping off the ice, she told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: “I slipped.” Hanlin’s departure means that Clegg, Diversity’s

Perri Kiely and TV presenter Joe Swash have all made it to next week’s grand final. Hanlin and Edwards were at the bottom of the leaderboard ahead of the skateoff, with 74.5.

Paying tribute to his partner, Hanlin said: “She’s been amazing. I’m going to miss skating with you every day.” Edwards told hosts Willoughby and Schofield dancing with the magician had been the “highlight of my career”.

The magician opened the show with a solo skate to Ain’t That A Kick In The Head by Dean Martin, scoring 37.5.

In a tribute to his wife, Hanlin chose Jake Bugg’s song Lightning Bolt for his second performance of the night.

Meanwhile, Kiely and partner Vanessa Bauer received a perfect score of 40 and a standing ovation after they skated to the music from Romeo & Juliet’s balcony scene.