Claire Sweeney calls Dancing On Ice partner 'relentless'

Watch Claire Sweeney call Dancing On Ice partner 'relentless'

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Claire Sweeney has admitted her Dancing On Ice partner is "relentless". The Coronation Street star is competing in the new series of the ITV skating show and is due to perform for the judges next week with professional partner Colin Grafton. And the celebrity admitted that while her skating partner is "lovely", he does not let her off lightly in rehearsals. She even joked he doesn't let her have time out to go to the toilet.

What, how, and why?

Sweeney appeared on This Morning to talk to hosts Josie Gibson and Dermot O'Leary about her experience of Dancing On Ice so far. Sweeney said of Grafton: "He's very patient Colin. He is lovely and so patient and kind. He is relentless though. he doesn't give me a minute. Even when I want to shoot to the toilet he's looking at me going ' You're lying.' " She laughed: "And I am a bit, but..."

The former Brookside star also revealed how she had suffered a fall backstage during the launch episode - and she wasn't even skating. She explained: "I'm clumsy at the best of times. We got a nice roast dinner on set before the show and I'm walking back to my dressing room and I fell over with it! That's not even on the ice!"

The 52-year-old is juggling filming soap Corrie with rehearsing for the show. And as professional singer, actor and West End star, Sweeney confessed she had been "faking it from the waist up" until now.

She said: "I've spent years faking it from the waist up. I was never a great dancer but I could make really nice shapes. You can't do that on the ice. You can make a nice shape but if your feet are not doing very good at the bottom, you're in trouble."

Sweeney admitted she had been relieved not to be picked to skate in week one. She said: "I've done as much as I can, but... I was glad I stood and watched last night. I don't know if you've ever got that feeling when you wake up of a morning and think, 'Don't make me do it.' And you want to get back under the covers. And I woke up yesterday and I thought 'I feel alright.' But I still got nervous, I was glad I had a week just to watch. But then if I do get through it gives me less than a week to work on my next routine."

Sweeney revealed she had suffered a fall in rehearsals. She told The Sun: "I went down really hard on my knees. I was hyperventilating for a bit and they let me go to the toilet. I just had a little ‘get myself together’ then went back out."

Dancing on Ice continues on Sunday evenings on ITV and ITVX.

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