Dancing on Ice Betting Markets Will Settle on Sunday
The new series of Dancing on Ice began on Sunday. Presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have returned to front the 15th series of the popular ITV show. The judging panel of Christopher Dean, Jayne Torvill, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse, is also unchanged.
But there are 11 new celebrity skaters. Six contestants made their debut on the ice at the weekend. The remaining five will skate for the first time this coming Sunday. Ante-post favorite Nile Wilson safely negotiated his way through the opening show.
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was not popular amongst the public voters on Sunday. ©Mike Marsland/Getty
The Olympic bronze medal-winning gymnast scored a table-topping 29.5 judges’ votes alongside his dance partner, Olivia Smart. However, Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu had a rude awakening when a shortage of public votes led to her finishing bottom of the combined points table.
Ekin-Su Set to Skate Off
28-year-old Ekin-Su looked less than impressed when told she would have to face one of this Sunday’s five contestants in a skate-off. The loser of this battle will become the show’s first eliminated contestant.
It is difficult not to sympathize with the former Turkish soap opera star. With 21.5 judges’ votes, Ekin-Su outscored EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer (21 points) and Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton (19 points).
The second favorite before the first Dancing on Ice show aired, the best online betting sites now quote Ekin-Su at 25/1. Joey Essex is the contestant that now follows Nile Wilson in the competition betting.
Mollie to Come a Cropper?
Following a sophisticated performance – that featured both a lunge and lift and earned 27 points from the judging panel – the former The Only Way is Essex star shortened into 11/4. 32-year-old Joey is a standout 7/2 with one firm, BetVictor sportsbook.
On Sunday evening, the betting markets will have another shakeup following performances from Hollyoaks and Doctors actress Carley Stenson, comedian Darren Harriott, former footballer John Fashanu, Coronation Street’s Mollie Gallagher and drag queen The Vivienne.
Of this quintet, 25-year-old Mollie Gallagher is the shortest in the betting. The actress – who plays Roy Cropper’s niece in ‘Corry’ – is 6/1. Pictures that recently appeared in the Sun newspaper appeared to show the third favorite will produce an athletic performance at the weekend.
The signs are not so good for Darren Harriott. On Tuesday, Wales Online reported the Mock the Week panelist had cut his arm when attempting to lift his partner during training. The 34-year-old had been quoted as a dismissive 20/1 underdog before this worrying incident.
How Can I Watch Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice, won last year by Regan Gascoigne, continues this Sunday at 6.30 pm. The show will be broadcast live every weekend on ITV. At ITVX – the ITV streaming service – you replay and catch up on past episodes.
