Dancing On Ice | Interview with Liberty Poole (Contestant)

What is the biggest appeal about doing the show? Have you watched over the years and always fancied having a go?

Yes I do ice skating as a hobby sometimes. For me, if I wanted to go out and do something fun that wasn’t going out for a meal, it would be ice skating. I’m quite good on the ice, I can’t do tricks or pirouetting, but I can do fast and forward skating. Me and my mum have always done it together. My mum used to be a figure skater when she was younger and she regrets giving it up. None of my mates like ice skating with me, so I used to suggest it as a date sometimes because none of my mates would go with me.

Has your mum taught you?

When I was seven (years old) I did some beginners lessons and I learnt the basics, since then I’ve gone ice skating as a hobby from time to time. I love ice skating at the Christmas markets. My mum has been a massive fan of the show for years, she’s always watched it, so I’ve grown up watching Dancing on Ice.

Is she really excited that you are taking part?

My mum is living vicariously through me right now, she is really excited about the show.

So you’re going to have to introduce her to Torvill and Dean.

I think she will be moved to tears when that happens. She loves it. She is a huge fan of the show and a huge fan of Torvill and Dean.

Why have you decided to take part in the show this year?

Ice skating is something that I enjoy doing and I’ve always wanted to get better at it. This show is perfect for me, advancing my skills. I was watching some videos the other day and I thought, ‘is that going to be me?’ You see previous contestants getting lifted up and chucked about and at the moment my skills aren’t quite there.

How’s your dancing?

That’s something that definitely needs to be improved. I’ve got the basic ice skating skills but when it comes to dancing I think my rhythm is questionable. It’s when you go on a night out and you think you’re dancing really sexy and you look back and you’re actually doing the macarena. It’s one of them.

What are you most looking forward to about learning to skate with a professional partner?

I’m really looking forward to advancing my skills and doing pirouettes and ice skating backwards. It’s something that I enjoy and actively want to get better at, so I’m definitely looking forward to taking my skills from just being able to skate fast and forward to actually doing manoeuvres. I’m definitely up for trying anything.

How do you feel about potential lifts and headbanger?

I think naturally it’s nerve wracking thinking about that because at this moment in time I don’t have the skills. Progressing to that stage is exciting but it’s something that I wouldn’t say no to. I’d definitely try it.

Are you an adrenaline junkie?

Oh yes, I love rollercoasters. I think that’s why I love ice skating as well as going around fast. It gives you an adrenaline rush.

Do you have any specific fitness goals you hope to achieve?

Oh definitely I’m here for it. Do you get abs as well? I’m definitely up for that, who wouldn’t be. I’ll have a better bikini body than I did on Love Island.

How competitive are you and are you in it to win it?

I’m so competitive. My family, you don’t want to be around us at a family game of monopoly at Christmas time. I’m so competitive it hurts my soul. I just come from that type of family. On the sports day challenge on Love Island, I couldn’t face Millie winning the challenge against me so I risked my life and jumped about two metres in the air to reach the bean bag before she did. I’m very competitive, let’s put it that way.

Would you say this is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Skydiving out of an airplane would be the scariest thing, but it’s still scary to think that the blades are quite sharp so it is scary. You have to put your trust completely in your partner. I don’t think it will be easy at first but the more you skate with them the more you trust them, it’s all about practice isn’t it?

Are you worried about live TV?

No, I’ve done live TV interviews before and I think I’ll be that engrossed in the performance and focusing on the skating, I’ll forget I’m on live TV. When I was on Love Island I forgot the cameras were there so it’s not really something that I’m worried about or considered as a worry at the moment.

How do you think you’ll react to potential criticism from the panel?

Yes I forgot about this side of it. Obviously I’ll take the criticisms on board. My goal is to be getting better each week and they are professionals, they know what they are talking about so I’ll definitely take it on board to help improve my performance each week.

If you had to describe your strengths and weaknesses to your professional partner, what would they be?

My strengths are that I’m quite good at pace and speed on the ice at the moment. I’m a grafter and I think I’m quite determined if I put my mind to it. I won’t stop until I master it, which I think is key for this show. I’m obviously looking forward to being able to do lifts and turns and the skater’s bum doesn’t sound bad either. It seems that there are a lot of pros to this than cons.

Do you know anyone who has taken part in the series and have you chatted to them about their experience?

I haven’t spoken to the previous love islanders. I have watched a few of their performances just because I was trying to gauge what they did on the ice. I looked at Maura’s performances because obviously she was a female ice skater. I really like Ray Quinn, I thought he was amazing on the ice, he was like a professional, you couldn’t tell the difference. It might be a bit ambitious but it would be nice to be the girl version of that.

Have you confided in any of your Love Island pals that you are taking part in the show?

Not yet. Obviously when it’s released in the press I’m sure they will be happy for me. Kaz will definitely come and watch me and I think a few others will turn up. It’ll be good fun.

Other than your mum, do any of you family know that you are taking part?

A few of my close family and friends know. They are so excited, they said to me, ‘Lib if I can imagine you doing anything it would be Dancing On Ice’, because they know how much I love ice skating. They are really happy for me and they said I think you’ll be really good, but obviously it’s more pressure when people think that you’re going to be good.