Brendan Cole Is Dancing on Ice Favorite, but Stats Are a Concern
Author:
Roy Brindley
Punters wasted no time piling cash on former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole when he was confirmed as a contestant in ITV’s Dancing on Ice two months ago.
The show finally starts this Sunday and is scheduled to last for ten weeks. A dozen contestants are due to take part meaning one, and in some cases two celebrities, will be eliminated each week.
2022 Dancing on Ice contender Bez and his professional ice-skating partner Angela Egan during rehearsals for the ITV show. ©GettyImages
However, Dancing on Ice producers can use their discretion to manipulate the format. Judged on the 2021 series, they may have to. No less than five celebrities were forced to withdraw from last year’s competition through injury or Covid-19.
Fancied on Strictly Come Formbook
Coronavirus and injury clouds may make betting on Dancing on Ice fraught with danger. But the best sports betting sites refunded stakes on players that were forced to withdraw from the recent World Darts Championship due to Covid-19. They may do the same if contestants have to unexpectedly withdraw from this massively popular Sunday night show.
Brendan Cole is the market leader at 3/1. Devoted fans know contestants with formal dance training often fare well in Dancing on Ice. Cole is a professional, and a fellow former Strictly Come Dancing pro, James Jordan, won this show in 2019.
Until the first two shows air – each will feature six skaters – the viewing public will have little idea of the true potential of the celebrity contestants. There is sure to be a shakeup in the early betting once these have been broadcast.
The formbook does indicate the eventual winner will have considerable skating ability and there is no chance of a celebrity with limited talent taking the trophy courtesy of gags and gaffes.
Age Is a Hinderance
A finer comb through the list of previous winners overwhelmingly suggests the eventual champion will be male. Eight of the last ten Dancing on Ice winners were male. Similarly, 40 would appear to be the ceiling age of the eventual winner.
This significant fact appears to hinder the chances of the current favorite. At 45, Brendan Cole would be the oldest ever winner of the show.
Despite his background in dancing, being pragmatic Cole should be left out of betting calculations. The same sentiment applies to 58-year-old Sally Dynevor and 57-year-old Happy Mondays member, Bez.
Bad Sport
Athletes and gymnasts have only a moderate record in the show. Beth Tweddle won in 2013, Rugby player Kyran Bracken collected the prize in 2017. The historically poor showing allows for BMX racer Kye White, Rugby’s Ben Foden and paralympic runner Stef Reid to be passed by.
This black marker pen approach only leaves The Vamps bassist and singer Connor Ball, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, Love Island contestant Liberty Poole, S Club 7 member Rachel Stevens, daytime television presenter Ria Hebden and Regan Gascoigne.
Regan is the son for former footballing star Paul Gascoigne. He is described as a ‘professional dancer’ by ITV’s publicity department. However, proof of his career is scarce. Even the 25-year-old’s management company offers no evidence of dance credits on their website.
A lack of profile rarely proves a handicap in Dancing on Ice but even at 13/2 – the industry top-price found at the Unibet sportsbook – niggling doubts about Gascoigne’s credentials means he is not considered an outstanding betting proposition.
Fan Club and Experience Make Liberty the Bet
With four of the remaining contestants being female, a very basic elimination process lead punters to Connor Ball.
But herein lays a problem. On Ball’s Instagram account the 25-year-old recently wrote: “I’ve never danced in my life but I’m going to have to learn some moves.” As form pointers go, this is a sizeable red flag.
An equally big yet positive signpost is Liberty Poole’s revelation that she has skated since childhood and her mother was a figure skater.
The 21-year-old may be female, but with significant experience on the ice and a huge social media following – including 1.5 million Instagram followers – the 11/2 about Poole bucking a statistical trend currently looks the best Dancing on Ice bet.
