Megan split helped me get to the final
I couldn’t focus on job, says Dancing On Ice star Wes James ‘even with Wes’ High hopes for Aalto
Wes and Vanessa worked hard EX-STRICTLY star James Jordan insists his dancing experience gives him no more of an edge than his rival Wes Nelson gains from being 21 years younger.
The favourite – whose wife Ola, 36, is a fellow pro dancer – said: “Everyone brings something. Wes has an advantage being 20, while I’m 41.”
But James, partnering Alexandra Schauman on the show, added: “I think people understand that skating is a totally different skill to dancing.” Alex & James ODDS ON Wes and Vanessa Ex Megan with Wes SINGER Saara Aalto is hoping tonight’s Dancing On Ice will see her finally lift a trophy – after coming runner-up in five different contests. She came second in 2016’s The X Factor, Finland’s versions of The Voice and the Got Talent franchise, and two Eurovision selection shows. Saara, 31, said: “It’s made me a fighter.” Dance partner Hamish Gaman said of training mishaps: “She hits me in the crown jewels. I’ve had to put padding down there!”
The reality star – who fell for Megan, 25, on ITV’S Love Island – says ending their relationship helped him to focus in the rink.
Wes, 20, says he was so distracted by their woes that it cost him vital hours of training.
“It affected my skating, definitely,” he revealed.
“At training I was nowhere near as focused as I am now.
“I’d be skating then run off to use my phone. We had three hours and it would be an hour and a half skating and the rest would be phone calls. “It was a constant cycle of not being able to train. “We’d get momentum then I’d have to take a call. I’d struggle to wake up the next day and be late.
“I couldn’t focus. That was happening for the first three weeks.” They hit the rocks when Meghan admitted she was jealous of Wes’s relationship with skate partner Vanessa Bauer, 22.
Wes – who fought Meghan for custody of their hamster – wept on last week’s show and says splitting so publicly hit him hard.
“It’s just genuinely upsetting,” he said. “I’m not doing anything as a publicity stunt. That’s why I was embarrassed to cry.”
He said Vanessa and ice rivals singer Brian Mcfadden and dancer James Jordan helped.
“Brian and James were there to help me with the break-up. We’re the Three Musketeers.
“I never thought I’d be best mates with Brian Mcfadden – how weird is that?”
Wes still talks to Megan, but rules out getting back together.
“Before it wasn’t civil,” he says. “Now it’s civil. But nothing more.”
Former nuclear design engineer Wes is lined up for a new ITV show – but says he misses the anonymity of his former life.
“I can’t tell you the format but it’s going to be more documentary,” he says. “Like Reggie Yates. Fun yet serious. I don’t like being famous. Feeding your ego has no benefits other than the financial side. I love the fact people like me but sometimes you just want a bit of privacy.”
janine.yaqoob@ sundaymirror.co.uk Saara and Hamish