Michaela Strachan has admitted she found Dancing On Ice “boring” to begin with but is now embracing the training and how her body has “completely changed”.
The Springwatch host is the bookmakers’ favourite to win and has wowed ITV viewers with her skills, finishing second on the leaderboard on Sunday with her skating partner Mark Hanretty.
But she admits when they first started she was not convinced she would love it until she really let herself go.
She said: “Skating the first few weeks was hard – and if I’m honest, it was a little boring! It’s like how you can’t play piano until you’ve learned scales. You can’t do the creative skating until you’ve learned the basics. The biggest thing is just committing.”
Speaking to Bella Magazine, 58-year-old Michaela also spoke about the impact all the training has on her body. She said: “My body has totally changed. I’ve lost weight and my legs have completely changed shape. I mean, I’m not complaining! You work everything from the waist down.”
Michaela’s family are back in South Africa where she is based and are having parties when they watch her compete although her partner Nick is apparently nervous about her competing.
Quizzed if she might continue to ice skate when she returns to South Africa, she said: “If I lived in the UK, I’d probably continue. It’s a great workout. Back in Cape Town, when I’m given the choice of hiking up a beautiful mountain in the sunshine or going by myself to skating doors. I think hiking will win. Obviously, I’ll be going to the rink to show off my skills, though.”
And asked about being away from home for several months to compete, she said: “I’m used to it, because I’ve done it my whole life. I’m very good at sucking it up, because how lucky am I to be doing this? I call skating my bubble. of joy. Dancing On Ice is so colourful and fun in a world that’s so full of heartache. I see what it’s done for my friends and family on two different continents bringing everyone together to support something. Skating is something I can get lost in.
“What I really want is to be an inspiration for older women. Age does not and should not define you. My son recently left for University and I could be an empty nester at home, sat feeling sorry for myself. Instead, here I am, I’m flying the flag for the older woman.”
Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox