Claire Sweeney has said she wanted to battle the ‘vulnerabilities and anxieties’ that came with the menopause by signing up for Dancing On Ice.
The actress, 52, will join famous faces including Olympian Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, singer Hannah Spearritt, West End star Amber Davies and Olympian Greg Rutherford when the show returns to ITV next year.
Explaining why she said yes to the show, she told Prima magazine: ‘I wanted to challenge myself.
‘You get little vulnerabilities and anxieties with menopause and you start to lose your bottle as you get older, so I want to conquer some fears and get my confidence and chutzpah back.
‘It’s going to be good for me. When I stepped on to the ice for the first time, I had this feeling of euphoria. It was such an adrenaline rush, I loved it – how great at 52 years of age.’
Claire Sweeney has said she wanted to battle the ‘vulnerabilities and anxieties’ that came with the menopause by signing up for Dancing On Ice
The actress, 52 (pictured), will join stars including Olympian Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, singer Hannah Spearritt, West End star Amber Davies when the show returns to ITV next year
Explaining why she said yes to the show, she told Prima magazine: ‘I wanted to challenge myself. You get little vulnerabilities and anxieties with menopause’
However, training has not been without difficulty and Sweeney admitted she took a tumble in front of judges Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean the first time she stepped on the ice.
She said: ‘The first time I went on the ice, Torvill and Dean were standing in the middle of this huge rink and there were cameras everywhere.
‘I’d got a blow-dry and was wearing bright blue because I thought it would stand out, but as I got on the ice I went flying, landed on my wrist and hurt it.
‘I thought, “If I can carry on with everyone looking at me, that will be a big accomplishment”, so I got back up and kept skating for half an hour and was so proud of myself.
‘Then I glanced in the mirror in the dressing room and saw that my leggings had ripped and my bum had been hanging out the whole time.’
Claire, who was the second celebrity to be announced for Dancing On Ice, shared a photo of the embarrassing mishap to her Instagram Story in October.
She showed off her ripped leggings and wrote: ‘First day on the ice had a fall. Was so proud, I got back up and carried on.
‘When I came off the ice I realised I’d been skating around with Torvill and Dean with my bum hanging out!’
‘It’s going to be good for me. When I stepped on to the ice for the first time, I had this feeling of euphoria. It was such an adrenaline rush, I loved it – how great at 52 years of age,’ she said
However, training has not been without difficulty and Sweeney admitted she took a tumble in front of judges Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean the first time she stepped on the ice
Claire, who became the second celebrity to be announced for the series in Sepye,ber, shared a photo of the embarrassing mishap on social media in October
Claire confirmed she would be taking part in the next series of Dancing On Ice in September.
The actress was the second celebrity to be announced, joining the previously confirmed World Champion Boxer Ricky Hatton MBE.
Revealing the news on This Morning, Claire said: ‘I’m really looking forward to going to an ice rink with my son and actually being able to skate and not have to use the penguins they give you to help you stay upright!’
She added: ‘I’ve had to wear my boots around the house… I haven’t stepped on the ice yet.
‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
Read the full interview in Prima’s January 2024 issue, on sale now
Claire added: ‘I’m nervous and excited about doing it.’
When quizzed on her previous dance experience by Holly Willoughby and her co-host Ben Shephard, she said: ‘How does dancing prepare you for skating? It’s totally different.
‘It’s more about the mind and conquering the fear. You can make nice shapes with your arms and stuff like that but it’s about getting over the fear.’
The actress is best known as Lindsay Corkhill 90s soap Brookside before joining Corrie earlier this year in the role of Cassie Plumber.
A source previously told The Sun: ‘Claire is going to be the first big name to be unveiled for Dancing On Ice.
‘She is a really talented performer and is pretty decent on the ice already.’
No stranger to the spotlight Claire has previously performed in string of musicals including Guys and Dolls and Legally Blonde.
Read the full interview in Prima’s January 2024 issue, on sale now.
The new series of Dancing On Ice will start in the new year on ITV1, ITVX and STV.
DANCING ON ICE: MEET THE 2024 CONTESTANTS
RICKY HATTON
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: Former pro boxer
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink’
HANNAH SPEARRITT
AGE: 42
PROFESSION: SINGER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill. It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing’
GREG RUTHERFORD
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Athlete
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I like a challenge and I needed a reason to go out and do stuff again and here we are. I want to perform something that’s never been done before, that’s my aim.’
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
AGE: 59
PROFESSION: OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!’
RICKY NORWOOD
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: EastEnders star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘It’s come at such a great time in life. I can’t skate at all! No rehearsals as yet, I’ve just had some physiotherapy to strengthen the body.’
RYAN THOMAS
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: Corrie star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Everyone keeps asking me, “are you doing it?” I’ve told everyone!’
CLAIRE SWEENEY
AGE: 52
PROFESSION: ACTRESS
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
AMBER DAVIES
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: WEST END STAR
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them’
MILES NAZAIRE
AGE: 27
PROFESSION: REALITY STAR
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I’ve always loved to dance but it’s usually on a dance floor on a Saturday night and Dancing on Ice looks so difficult.’
LOU SANDERS
AGE: 37
PROFESSION: COMEDIAN
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m nervous about cracking my head open, or just bashing the old head. I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.’
ADELE ROBERTS
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: RADIO PRESENTER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘It’s ”bricking it on ice” for me! I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away’
ROXY SHAHIDI
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: Emmerdale star
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I can’t ice-skate. I haven’t really said anything to anyone but mainly because I’m so nervous about it!’
