I’m scared I’ll hurt my new partner too

PARTNER NO.2 Karina Manta now skates with Graham with is coronavirus. Dancing on Ice is filmed under strict regulations, and while some celebrity competitors have moved in with their professional partners so they can practise safely together, Graham is still living at home – but with strict rules.

He says: “Everyone’s being ultra-careful. Sarah says she’s the only one allowed to go to the shop, and she wears gloves and a mask and sprays everything down when she brings it in. “We’ve got to be really careful. Both Sarah and I had it back in

Yebin Mok’s leg was injured in training

April, but that’s too long for the antibodies. I have friends who have had it twice. Back then, I barely felt anything, but my wife got it bad and then got long

Covid. She struggled with her fitness and breathing for three months, just walking up hills in

August was difficult.”

Graham is pleased he managed a solo spin in the opening show but says he is “not in it to win it”. And he is not bothered by reports this week that fellow contestant Joe Warren-plant took secret ice-skating lessons before joining the show.

He jokes: “I went and played some roller hockey

at the station car park in

Henley, does that count? I had a level of skating coming in to this too, I’d already skated and played a bit of ice hockey.

“But I’d never danced, that was the area for me that needed improving, so I went off and got some dance lessons. Isn’t that the same?

“Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses in this show.

“We have people who are trained in dance, we’ve got natural showmen who are good at performing for the

SOLO Graham in the opening show

cameras – they all bring in their own things. There are certain skills that I’ve been able to transfer from skiing to skating too.”

He tips Joe, Faye Brooks and Rebekah Vardy as his top three favourites to win.

But he adds: “I think it’s all about having as much fun as you can.”

However, in a hint he may have set his eyes on the Dancing on Ice crown after all, he adds: “I’m the same age as Bill Bailey was when he won Strictly Come Dancing. He was 55, that’s how old I am now. “And maybe I’m just a little fitter.” Dancing on Ice is on VM1 tomorrow, 6pm