Monday 29 March

Hail Hayley!

There’s no two ways about it - Hayley Tamaddon and Dan performed a mesmerising routine that totally deserved to see them crowned winners.

With a lot of original lifts and great footwork from the pair of them, the atmosphere was electric and it was a slice of priceless history to be proud of.
 
Intimate, emotional and performed beautifully.
 
Favourites and best friends from day one the connection Emmerdale star Hayley, 33, and Dan have made in their partnership has just been immense to watch.
 
They started to Songbird by Eva Cassidy. They got a whopping 29 points and skated beautifully.

‘You made it look easy’ said Nicky, ‘The pair of you are such a great team.”
 
Their Jai Ho routine got them another run of straight sixes from the judges. They were incredible.
 
Christopher Dean said:’Coming out and being able to repeat a performance that was so good the first time - and coming out and being able to do it again? That’s the sign of a champion.”

The final night is even more nerve racking than the first and I can remember standing in the tunnel waiting to be catapulted out into the blind glare of the studio lights whilst trying to control a heart that’s beating out of your chest and cruel legs that suddenly don’t feel like they’re yours.

Obscene amounts of adrenaline are coursing through your system. It feels less like you’re on a tv show and more like you’re in a colosseum about to wrestle a hungry lion.
 
The others put in some great performances too - Kieron and Brianne were praised by Christopher Dean for the steep learning curve and had big smiles all round at the end and in general a cracking performance. The lack of precision was made up for with his fearlessness. And above all - it worked.

Gary Lucy managed to quench his childhood ambition of being superman as he flew at speed over the ice with Maria to “Starman.”

Judge Jason predictably criticised Gary but he rose above it and Robin Cousins backed him: ”You have been the strongest skater of the show and you delivered tonight with passion.” 
 
What a great series!