They’ve performed Duels, School Disco numbers and solo skates, but this week, it’s all about the Team Challenge for our remaining six contestants. Ice mentors Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean anointed Matt and Beth as Team Captains, thanks to their positions as the highest scoring skaters so far, with Matt picking Gareth and Luke to join his all-boy side, and Beth plumping for Samia and Keith. The prize? The chance for each team to see their individual scores doubled, giving them a huge advantage when it comes to facing the public vote.
Christopher Dean told us, “Sometimes if there’s a move that one of them [in the team] can’t do, we have to change it for everyone. So really we have to choreograph to the most limited skater – and everybody’s trying to up their game.” But who’s been tip-top in training – and who’s been seriously rocky in rehearsals?
“Gangnam style is a great song and it’s fun, but it’s fast and there’s a lot of really fast moves in there,” Samia worried as she practised her Team piece to PSY’s internet viral hit, “I’ll be competing for the team but for myself as well, because I don’t want to be at the bottom of the leaderboard again. It’s going to be entertaining, no matter what!”
“I’m the weakest link in Team Matt,” confessed Luke, who’s partnered with two of the strongest competitors of the series, and has been struggling with their routine to Vanilla Ice’s Can’t Touch This. “These two boys are leading in the boards at the moment, so I’m that little bit behind. But I’m learning from them both.”
But Team Captains Beth and Matt are positive about their groups’ chances: “I think the lads are going to be really competitive! But we’re definitely out there to win it. As long as we work hard as a team, and we perform to our best, then we can’t ask anything else of each other,” said the Olympic gymnast, with the former Eastenders actor adding, “We’re having an absolute blast! We’re shaping up well, and we’re having so much fun!”
So will it be Team Beth or Team Matt that takes the Challenge trophy home? Watch from 6.15pm Sunday 17th February on ITV1 to see all the action unfold…