Dancing On Ice’s Brian hopes to emulate pal Gately

FORMER Westlife star Brian McFadden has said he hopes he enjoys Dancing On Ice as much as his late friend, Stephen Gately, did.

Boyzone singer Gately died aged 33 in 2009 and had competed in the second series of the ITV skating spectacular in 2007.

McFadden, pictured with his skate partner Alex Murphy, is part of the second group of celebrities who will skate this weekend, following the ITV show’s return on Sunday which saw the first six celebrities perform.

The 38-year-old singer and TV presenter said: ‘I remember watching my old pal Stephen Gately on the show, and when I look at Stephen doing it I just saw how happy he was doing it and how much he loved doing it. If I could have as good a time as Stephen did doing it then I would be very happy.’

Meanwhile, ex-Pussycat Dolls singer and dancer Melody Thornton said she thinks people will ‘pre-judge and say, “well, she’s going to be great because all she has to do is learn to skate” and that’s definitely not true’.

She added: ‘I have a very hard time with choreography, and dance does not come naturally to me. I have to work extra hard and if it looks good then great but just know I worked hard to make it happen.’ EastEnders star Richard Blackwood, 46, said he wants to show that ‘age is nothing but a number’.

Also skating this weekend will be Loose Women’s Saira Khan, Love Island’s Wes Nelson and cricketer Ryan Sidebottom.

The other six celebrities who have already skated are ex-Neighbours actor Mark Little, reality TV star Gemma Collins, Grease legend Didi Conn, ex-Strictly dancer James Jordan, Coronation Street actress Jane Danson and former X Factor star Saara Aalto.