Tony Cowell
Cheryl Baker joined Dancing On Ice to get her waist back – but admits it’s scarier than she could have imagined
At 63, she is the oldest celebrity on Dancing On Ice – but Cheryl Baker (who, at the time of going to press, was at risk of the skate-off), maintains she doesn’t regret her decision to join the show. A mumof-two – she has grownup twin daughters Kyla and Natalie with husband Steve Stroud – the singer now tours as The Fizz with two other original members of 80s group Bucks Fizz. Here, Cheryl talks about how scary it really is on the ice, her skating partner Dan Whiston, and the incident that still haunts her…
How are you feeling at the moment?
I hurt my arm today in rehearsal. I’m scared of falling on my back! I just didn’t realise how dangerous this ‘dancing on ice’ really is. I’ve always loved dancing, but this has taken me by surprise. The problem is, if you fall, you risk real damage, especially at my age.
So it’s been much harder than you thought?
Oh, my God, yes. I keep thinking, ‘ What on earth did I sign up for? I must be mad.’ I fell really hard on the first day, that was when the fear set in, and I can’t get rid of it. But I’m so determined, I won’t give up. I auditioned last May and I was the first female chosen – but I didn’t get told I was on the show till September. I just thought they didn’t want me.
How do you get on with your pro partner, Dan?
He is amazing. I’ve just got to touch his little finger and I feel safe. He’s so strong, so confident, but if he takes that little finger away, I go to pieces. He never over-pushes me, he’s very gentle in that way, and he’s won before so he knows what to do. But that’s my other fear – my fear of letting him down. I hate letting people down.
Do you think people forget just how dangerous this show really is?
I think so. And we’ve already lost Monty [Panesar] from the show because he broke his ankle. So, yes, of course it’s dangerous. It’s just me and my head full of fear that is letting me down. I need my brain to be my friend; at the moment, it’s my enemy.
You say you fear breaking your back – which calls to mind your terrible bus crash 34 years ago. Obviously that still haunts you…
It does, yes. I still have nightmares. I don’t remember the actual crash – I only remember being picked up off the road and being taken to hospital. I went through the windscreen – they told me that. So you do carry these things with you, in your subconscious. Sometimes, when I’m in the car, or I’m in a tour bus with the band, I get scared.
Is it true you wear extra padding on the show, to
protect your back?
I do, yes, under my costume. I forgot to take it to my rehearsal so that put me into another panic!
Did your family try to talk you out of it?
No, not at all! I audition for loads of things and normally I don’t get them. That’s why when I didn’t hear back from Dancing On Ice for over four months I thought I wasn’t wanted – so when I got the call I was so excited and so were my daughters. But like me, I don’t think they considered the implications of the dangers on the ice.
Who do you see as a possible winner of the show?
I think Jake [Quickenden] is very good – he’s really confident and I think he raised the bar in the first show. Donna [Air] looks so elegant on the ice – I think she stands a good chance of getting to the final, too.
You’re obviously quite brave, though – you went on TV show Drop The
Celebrity, where you broke your ankle, didn’t you?
I did, yes – but it was my own fault. I was on a parachute jump and yet again I was worried about landing on my back so I tried to land on my feet and broke my ankle. It’s the same old subconscious fear of breaking my spine.
Do you now fear being eliminated from the show?
Of course – someone has to go every week. It’s Eurovision all over again! I want to stay in; I’m doing this for me but I also want women my age to think, ‘If she can do it, so can I.’ It’s important to try to instil a bit of confidence in older women.
Is getting old something that worries you?
Actually, no. I don’t fear getting old at all! Which I suppose is why I am doing a show like Dancing On Ice. I do have something to prove, but I don’t believe it has anything to do with age. I just like competitions. I do fear letting my family – and, of course, Dan – down.
Dancing On Ice is on Sundays, 6pm, ITV