First celebrity contestant eliminated from Dancing On Ice after skate-off

John Fashanu has said his time on Dancing On Ice has been “wonderful” as he became the first celebrity to be eliminated from the new series. Following the public vote on

Sunday, the former footballer, 60, found himself in the dreaded skate-off against Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu, 28, who performed last weekend with the first batch of

celebrities. Fashanu and his professional partner Alexandra Schauman performed once again, this time to Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit In The Sky while Culculoglu and her partner

Brendyn Hatfield skated to No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande. After the couples went head to head, the judges voted unanimously to save Culculoglu, sending Fashanu

packing. Fashanu, who was part of the Wimbledon team that won the FA Cup final against Liverpool in 1988, said: “Whatever happens it has been wonderful. FA Cup final

again.” He also confirmed he will carry on skating and said he might even start teaching others. Earlier in the episode, with his first routine, he paid tribute to his

sporting background as he performed to Eat My Goal by Collapsed Lung. Fashanu and Schauman dressed in football jerseys as they glided across the ice and were accompanied by

people dressed as footballs who danced around them. They received a score of 19 for their efforts, with judge and former Olympic skater Christopher Dean describing him as

the most improved skater since boot camp. He added there was “a lot of smoke and mirrors” and “not a lot of skating” but that overall Fashanu remained steady on his feet

which he commended him for.