03 February 2024 , 21:17
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Dancing on Ice star Ryan Thomas says the skating show is giving him a chance to Netflix and chill - because he’s been staying in London away from his three kids.
The former Corrie actor, 39, who is engaged to Lucy Mecklenburgh, has son Roman, three, and daughter Lilah, one, with her, and 14 year old Scarlett from a previous relationship with Tina O’Brien.
And he admitted after the series is over he will definitely owe ex Towie star Lucy a break. He said: “I’ll be honest, I’ve been in the house down here and I’m putting Netflix on, having baths. I appreciate this time.
“I said to Lucy: ‘You need to do this sometimes, let me look after the kids, and just have time in the house and not wake up with any kids - it’s amazing.’ She was like: ‘Not right now, Ryan, not right now.’
“And I can hear all the kids screaming in the background. It’s chaos with them, but I do love it.”
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Ryan, who is paired with Amani Fancy, went down a storm last week as he skated as Willy Wonka for movie week. And he says his family are thrilled with his progress, especially son Roman - who has gifted him some special drawings.
He went on: “Roman started drawing pictures of me at nursery with my skates on, and he’s mentioned a few things. I saw a video of him watching the show and he was just staring. So I think he’s just taking it all in.
“Scarlett sent me a lovely message saying: ‘Dad, work really hard, you’re going to do really well at this.’ It was probably the nicest message she’s ever sent me actually. Normally it’s: ‘Dad, can I have some money?!”
Ryan has also relied on brother Adam for support during the show - after he backed him in last year’s series of Strictly. But he admitted he is desperate to beat the number of weeks Adam lasted on the ballroom show.
He said: “Do you know what, Adam had a lot going on, and he was up against it with (filming) Waterloo Road and his arthritis. I’m very blessed in the fact that I can just concentrate on this and not have anything in my way.
“But on the brotherly banter side of it, of course, I’m the big brother. And I’m going to make sure when we go out or in a group of friends on a night out, it will get dropped - because I have to beat him. I think he came eighth and so as long as I come seventh, I’ll be happy!”