This Sunday, Rio Ferdinand and his wife, Kate, were on hand to cheer for Rio’s brother, Anton, as he made his debut on Dancing on Ice.
Anton, a former West Ham United player, joined forces with professional skater Annette Dytrt for their first performance, skating to Maneskin’s rendition of “Beggin.”
The couple’s performance earned them a respectable 26 out of 40 points.
From the audience, Rio and Kate beamed with pride, later sharing their feelings with hosts Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby.
They confessed they were nervous about Anton’s performance, especially after watching some of his training clips.
Rio’s Reaction to Anton’s Performance
Rio couldn’t help but laugh as he recalled Anton’s earlier rehearsals.
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” Rio said, adding, “he sent us a few videos, and he was horrific.”
Despite their nerves, both Rio and Kate were thrilled with Anton’s debut, especially after hearing the judges’ comments that Anton could be “one to watch” in the competition.
Rio enthusiastically mentioned, “We’ll be back, hopefully!” as the family prepared for the next steps in the competition.
Dancing on Ice Kicks Off
The first episode of Dancing on Ice introduced six couples to the rink, all hoping to make an impression on viewers.
Alongside Anton, there were performances from Sam Aston, Ferne McCann, Chris Taylor, Chelsee Healey, and Michaela Strachan.
The night ended with Michaela leading the scoreboard with 30.5 points, while Chelsee found herself at the bottom with just 22 points.
No eliminations took place yet, but viewers were encouraged to vote for their favorite pair.
With next week’s performances, the votes and judges’ scores will be combined, and the couple with the lowest score will be eliminated—without a skate-off.
A Special Milestone for Kate and Rio
Away from the ice, Kate marked an emotional milestone: eight years since she first met Rio.
The couple, who met in 2016 while on holiday in Dubai, celebrated by sharing a throwback photo.
To commemorate their anniversary, Kate reflected on their journey, saying, “Who would have thought that fast forward to now we would be back in the place we met, married, with two more beautiful children, five in total.”
The couple, who married in 2019, are parents to Cree (born December 2020) and Shae (born last year), and Kate is also a stepmother to Rio’s three children from his previous marriage to Rebecca Ellison, who passed away in 2015.
Kate and Rio rang in 2025 in Dubai, where they first met, enjoying a cozy night out.
Kate shared their joy with fans, expressing, “Going into 2025 feeling very grateful and excited for what’s to come.”
Dancing on Ice Week 1 Leaderboard
Here’s how the leaderboard stacked up after the first week:
- Michaela Strachan – 30.5 points
- Sam Aston – 27 points
- Ferne McCann – 26.5 points
- Anton Ferdinand – 26 points
- Chris Taylor – 24 points
- Chelsee Healey – 22 points
As the competition heats up, it will be exciting to see how the couples perform next week.
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