Matthew Wolfenden & Nina Ulanova

Adventurous Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden is ready to follow in the footsteps of Ray Quinn and Chris Fountain and try out some of the more challenging skating moves on Dancing On Ice.

“We've been working a lot on jumps and I’m hoping, if I’m lucky enough to stay in that I will be able to attempt an axel at some point in the competition,” he says. “I’m a bit nervous about trying the headbanger - it looks ridiculously scary. Not necessarily for me but for my skating partner, Nina.”

However, the acting star is not fazed by the sparkly costumes he’ll be asked to wear. “I'm looking forward to the outfits! I'm going to be proper blinged up,” he admits. “The lads down the pub will take the mickey but they all want tickets.” Now that really is raising the bar…

Check out the Emmerdale website for more from Matthew.

This World Champion skater has been figure skating since 1982.

During the mid-nineties, Nina came second in the Russian Junior Championships, and fifth in the World Junior Championships held in Australia. Later, in 1996, Nina took part in a series of international Grands Prix - coming first in botcompetitions held in both France and Germany.

Also during that year, Nina won the Russian Junior Championships, and then went on to win the World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea.

In 1997 she progressed to adult competitions, winning The Cup Of Russia and coming second in The Alpine Cup in Germany. In the same year Nina placed 6th in the Russian Championships and A year later she successfully defended her Alpine Cup title, again placing first.

In 1999 and 2000 Nina again competed in the Russian Championships, placing 5th and 4th respectively, before retiring from competition and turning professional.

Since then Nina has skated in Holiday On Ice, (2001-2010), as well as Phantasialand (2003) and Kyran Bracken’s Ice Party (2008).