Dancing on Ice’s Vanessa Bauer has opened up about her 2025 partner (Image: Getty)
Chris Taylor had extensive experience on-screen before entering – even including a role in the movie Barbie – but, according to his pro partner, he’s not a natural on skates.
Talking exclusively to Express.co.uk at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s new show Corteo, she revealed: “He’s not a natural, but he’s getting there and he’s so hard-working!” Vanessa doesn’t believe his background on will help when it comes to ice-skating, but is sure that his “personality” will work wonders in winning over the crowd.
She declared: “I think Chris’s strength is his personality and character and even though he doesn’t have a performance background, I think it’s great to get his character on the ice.” She’s now rooting for the pair to get to the final.
“That would be beautiful, because he’s been working so hard,” she exclaimed. Meanwhile, Vanessa confirmed that having a goal to focus on for Dancing on Ice has been a huge help when it comes to her grief about losing her father.
She lost him in 2021 following a gruelling cancer battle, but there are still times that are challenging for her. The hope of winning the show again, as she did with Jake Quickenden back in 2018, would be a defining moment to give her the feeling he’s watching proudly.
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Dancing on Ice star Vanessa Bauer at Cirque du Soleil’s new show Corteo (Image: Getty)
“Ice skating has always helped me get over the death,” she told us.
Another focus that helped was her appearance on ‘s The Real Full Monty in 2023, the goal of which was specifically to raise funds and awareness for cancer.
She exclusively told Express.co.uk at the time that the show had marked “a huge step in [her] healing journey”.
“My dad’s diagnosis was absolutely horrible for the whole family of us to digest… he suffered with cancer for six years before he actually passed from it, so my whole seven years of Dancing on Ice were actually overshadowed by my dad having to constantly fight cancer,” she explained.
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Vanessa Bauer and Chris Taylor hope to win Dancing on Ice this year (Image: Getty)
“I didn’t know whether he was going to survive or if he was going to pass – it took its toll on my mental health.”
However, the star has turned a corner since and she smiled brightly as she took to the red carpet just minutes before settling into her seat to watch Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
She was looking forward to seeing acrobatics, backflips and other incredible stunts as a clown’s funeral was transformed into a party celebrating the joy in the afterlife.
Another focus bringing Vanessa joy is her football agent beau James Rowe, who she said is making her “happier than she’s ever been”.
returns this Sunday January 19 on ITV at 6:30pm, hosted by and
Meanwhile, runs at the Royal Albert Hall until March 2, 2025.