Ryan makes sad admission ahead of DOI final and looks forward to family reunion

08 March 2024 , 21:00

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Ryan Thomas is one of four celebrities competing in this Sunday's Dancing On Ice final (Image: PA)

Ryan Thomas is one of four celebrities competing in this Sunday's Dancing On Ice final.

The actor, 39, best known for playing Jason Grimshaw on Coronation Street, will compete against Greg Rutherford, Adele Roberts and Miles Nazaire in a bid to be crowned the 2024 ITV skating show champion. Ryan is paired with professional skater, Amani Fancy, on the show and so far the duo have managed to avoid being in the skate-off.

Opening up to the Mirror, and other press, about his journey on the show so far ahead of the final, Ryan made a sad admission as he admitted the ITV skating show has made him believe in himself more. The soap star said of what he's learnt about himself from doing the show: "You can do more than you think you can do.

"I used to watch the routines and look going: 'I can't do that' and then, by the end of the week, I was doing it on the live show. So it's believing in yourself, sometimes I don't believe in myself as much as I should do but we've got this far and things are possible that you don't think are possible. It's resilience - getting up and carrying on, that is quite important to me.

Ryan Thomas is paired with professional skater, Amani Fancy, on the show (ITV)

Ryan is one of four celebrities competing in this Sunday's Dancing On Ice final (PA)

"I'm not going to quit, I know that, I definitely won't quit as it's not in my nature. It's testing and this is what a challenge is there for and this is why we take them on. We want to be put in a situation where we are challenged and we are stepping out of our comfort zone. At least I can go with my head held high and say: 'I tried my best and I worked really hard.'"

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With such a gruelling routine and training for the skating show, Ryan hasn't been able to spend as much time with his family as he usually does and he can't wait to be reunited. The soap star has daughter, Scarlett, 15, with ex Tina O'Brien while he shares Roman, four, and Lilah, nearly two, with fiancée Lucy Mecklenburgh.

Asked if Lucy's looking forward to having him back at home full-time, Ryan quipped: "Oh my God, I think we all are! I never thought I'd hear the day she's looking forward to hearing me come home! She said the house is tidy!" He added: "It's really tough [being away], I've not seen my kids really at all. Maybe once a week, if that, and sometimes I don't see them in that week as I'm travelling.

"I think my son gets a bit jealous that I'm going ice skating without him. I might have to go ice skating with him. He goes a bit quiet when he sees me on telly as I think he thinks: 'I want to go ice skating!' so I best take him ice skating when I finish here. The last thing I want to do is go ice skating and I'll have to do some more with him!"

Ryan revealed he will be supported by his family, including famous brothers Adam and Scott Thomas, this Sunday for the final in the audience. However, his two youngest children won't be in attendance as it's past their bedtime although Ryan joked son Roman would love an excuse to stay up late. Talking about life after Dancing On Ice, Ryan, who is turning 40 this year, wants a massive holiday and quality family time.

Dancing On Ice the final airs this Sunday at 6:25pm on ITV and ITV X. *Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Olivia Wheeler