Regan Gascoigne 'started from nothing' to get to Dancing On Ice final

Regan Gascoigne has insisted he "started from nothing" to make it to the 'Dancing on Ice' final.

The 26-year-old performer - who is partnered by Karina Manta on the show - dismissed suggestions he and fellow finalists Kimberly Wyatt and Brendan Cole have had an unfair advantage over ousted contestants because of their backgrounds in dance, but he doesn't think that's the case because ice skating is "totally different".

He said: "We know how to operate this part, but the steps and the routines are different. You do something and they go, "Oh, that's wrong." We all started from nothing to get here so I think it's different."

Kimberly insisted they have had to work just as hard as the other contestants, though she acknowledged her dance training had allowed her to try new things on the ice with her partner Mark Hanretty.

She said: "I've been really grateful for my dance background, absolutely, but with that comes the fact that we're going for things that have not been done before.

"When I did the invert spinning split, no one had done that before and maybe if I did not have a dance background I would not have had the nerve to go for it.

'"You're never going to convince everybody that you deserve to be there or don't deserve to be there."

Her comments echo those of former 'Strictly Come Dancing' professional Brendan, who said he believes their dance backgrounds have made this year's series "really special".

The dancer - who is partnered by Vanessa Bauer - told MailOnline: "I think the fact that we have got a dancing background has only improved things on the ice.

"The stuff we have been able to do because of our background has been really special. I have loved the challenge of it. People are always going to complain. That is the nature of how humans exist today. We will never change their minds."