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Dancing On Ice returned for another year on Sunday evening with an ultra-glamorous launch – as Joey Essex kicked off the show with his dance partner Vanessa Bauer.
And the former TOWIE star, 33, gushed over the brunette beauty, 26, in an awkward exchange following their impressive performance.
When host Holly Willoughby said he ‘looked to be enjoying himself’ Joey turned to Vanessa – looking her up and down – remarking: ‘She’s easy on the eye’.
Flirty: Joey Essex gushed over Dancing On Ice partner Vanessa Bauer in an awkward moment amid romance rumours – after couple scored an impressive 27 points on Sunday
‘And she’s a very good skater!’ Holly sternly replied, with Joey agreeing before appearing to blush.
The pair certainly started things off with a bang as he took to the ice in a suave two-piece suit and even performed an airplane lift bagged 27 points out of a possible 40.
It came after the show began with an show-stopped opening performance from the professional skaters as they stormed the ice in neon ensembles while dancing to Whitney Houston‘s I Wanna Dance With Somebody – before being joined by the 11 new celebrities for a grand finish.
Cheeky: When host Holly Willoughby said he ‘looked to be enjoying himself’ Joey turned to Vanessa – looking her up and down – and saying: ‘She’s easy on the eye’
Naughtyy: ‘And she’s a very good skater!’ Holly sternly replied, with Joey agreeing before appearing to blush
Joey’s opening performance impressed the judges, as judges Jayne Torvil and Chris Dean both scored him 6.5 points, with the latter saying: ‘Tonight I think you stole some hearts, that was a great performance. A few things to be careful of, be careful that you have got to skate up to Vanessa, don’t let her pull you around.’
While he scored a 7 from both Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo, with Oti dubbing the reality star: ‘Charming’.
Hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby returned to the rink too as the show’s hosts, as the latter looked sensational in a black diamanté embellished gown.
Impressive: The pair certainly started things off with a bang as he took to the ice in a suave two-piece suit and even performed an airplane lift bagged 27 points out of a possible 40
Talent: While he scored a 7 from both Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo, with Oti dubbing the reality star: ‘Charming’
The show features former EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer, Love Island’s Ekin-Su Culculoglu, 28, and Liberty X’s Michelle Heaton, 43, who all hope to be crowned champion.
Other celebs competing in this year’s series include football legend John Fashanu, olympic gymnast Nile Wilson, Coronation Street’s Mollie Gallagher, Drag Queen and TV personality The Vivienne, comedian Darren Harriott, actress and West End star Carley Stenson and The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran.
‘Vanessa is single, I’m single. There’s gonna be a bit of flirting going on’.
Opening number: It came after the show began with an show-stopped opening performance from the professional skaters as they stormed the ice in neon ensembles while dancing to Whitney Houston ‘s I Wanna Dance With Somebody – before being joined by the 11 new celebrities for a grand finish
Hosts: Hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby returned to the rink too as the show’s hosts, as the latter looked sensational in a black diamanté embellished gown
It comes after Joey admitted that it is ‘very intimate’ skating with partner Vanessa, and confessed that he ‘doesn’t know’ how married people take part in the show.
Earlier this week he gushed that he feels ‘blessed’ to be paired with the German skating professional confessing he was ‘very happy’ about the arrangement.
Joey told The Sun: ‘I’m truly blessed to be paired with Vanessa, I was very happy. You’re close and you are touching each other’s legs . . . and everywhere else. You are very intimate and it can happen.
Blessed: It comes after Joey admitted that it is ‘very intimate’ skating with partner Vanessa, and confessed that he ‘doesn’t know’ how married people take part in the show
‘Honestly I don’t know how people do this show when they’re married — it would be a disaster.
‘People were saying to me, like, ”If I was married . . . God!” Lucky I ain’t got a ring on my finger, eh?’
Vanessa shut down the growing rumours of a romance between her and Joey, after they had previously said to have been ‘super flirty’.
She shared that they are ‘just friends’, before adding that they’re having ‘a lot of fun’ preparing for the competition.
DANCING ON ICE 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
PATSY PALMER
AGE: 50
PROFESSION: Actress and DJ
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve turned it down before because I was terrified, but when I turned 50 I made a pact to get out of my confront zone. ‘
EKIN-SU CULCULOGLU
AGE: 28
PROFESSION: Love Island star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve got some amazing news to tell you. I’m so excited, I can’t wait to get myself on the ice and skate. Stay tuned and see you on the ice.’
MOLLIE GALLAGHER
AGE: 24
PROFESSION: Actress
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve not got the best coordination so when people find out they will laugh, but I don’t want to spend my life saying “I can’t do this, I can’t do that.”
JOEY ESSEX
AGE: 32
PROFESSION: Ex TOWIE star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited. I wanted something in my life with structure and it’s more serious than what I usually do.’
CARLEY STENSON
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Actress and West End star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited that I get to learn how to dance…on ice! I’m terrified but can’t wait – I just want to make the most of this whole experience.’
SIVA KANESWARAN
AGE: 33
PROFESSION: Singer
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I want to learn how to skate and make my family proud of me and put on a show for everyone to see.’
JOHN FASHANU
AGE: 60
PROFESSION: Former footballer and pundit
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I am definitely in it to win it.And this may be one of the scariest things I’ve ever signed up for but I couldn’t be more ready for the challenge!’
NILE WILSON
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: Olympic gymnast
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve not done much ice-skating but I am so excited for the opportunity. I’m so excited to get into that routine and to feel like an athlete again.’
JAMES LEE WILLIAM AKA THE VIVIENNE
AGE: 29
PROFESSION: Drag queen
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘To be the first drag artist to take part in one of the big UK reality competition shows is an honour and a big step forward for queer representation on TV.’
DARREN HARRIOT
PROFESSION: Comedian
AGE: 34
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve got giant feet, I don’t skate and I can’t dance. My family has already made bets – they’re making bets that I’ll fall on the first episode!’
MICHELLE HEATON
AGE: 43
PROFESSION: Singer
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve always wanted to do it but I know I would never have been able to complete anything because of the way I was 18 months ago, so I’m really truly grateful that I’ve got it this year when I’m a lot stronger.’
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