Gymnast Nile Wilson secures perfect score on Dancing On Ice with mental health inspired routine

ok.co.uk:

Nile Wilson and Olivia Smart have scored the first 40 of this year’s Dancing On Ice.The 27-year-old Olympian skated to In My Blood by Shawn Mendes, which he chose because the lyrics conveyed his mental health journey after retirement from gymnastics.

In the video before his performance, Wilson spoke about his feelings of “complete loneliness” after retiring from the sport and turning to drinking, gambling and painkillers – describing himself as being in a “scary place”.

Wilson scored the first 10 of the series from judge Ashley Banjo before receiving a perfect score. He said: “The story I told took a lot of courage to do that and this process has given me some life and some light.” Judge Christopher Dean said: “What I loved was the raw emotion.

I think you surprised yourself with what you can bring out of yourself. I hope Dancing On Ice has filled that void because that Olympic flame always burns bright.” Oti Mabuse said: “I want to thank you for being on the show, for speaking out about mental health and letting us see you for who you really are, because that was perfection.” Jayne Torvill said: “If this was the Olympics, you’d be a winner,” while Banjo added: “I always knew you had the physicality but finding that heart – great performers are not great because of their technique, they’re great because of their heart.Tens well deserved.” The five remaining celebrities will all skate twice during the semi-final, with the second round seeing them choose a song for their “personal skate” in a bid to avoid the night’s double elimination.The final of Dancing On Ice will air on March 12 at 6.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.