James Jordan has shared an inside look at the chaos that goes on behind the scenes of Dancing On Ice, 

revealing the intense pressure, anxiety, and frenetic activity that takes place while the live show is in full swing.

In a candid interview, the professional dancer opened up about

what viewers don’t get to see and how the atmosphere backstage is far more intense than it might seem from the comfort of their homes.

Having joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 and later appearing on Dancing On Ice in 2019,

James has experienced both shows and knows just how much work goes into every performance,

particularly in the high-stakes environment of live television. In his interview, he emphasized the challenges faced by contestants and the support system that makes those performances possible.

“There’s so much going on backstage that people don’t realize,” James explained. “It’s not just the choreography or the performances themselves. There’s a lot of anxiety, rehearsals, and emotional moments that happen on a smaller ice rink behind the scenes. While the live show is taking place, there’s this whirlwind of activity that goes unnoticed.”

James went on to describe the kind of pressure that contestants face during the final moments of preparation. He recalled times when he was still stumbling on the ice just before stepping on stage for a live performance. “I remember rehearsing backstage just moments before going on stage, still falling over, thinking, ‘I’m about to perform in front of millions, and I’m still falling!’ It’s tough. People don’t understand how hard ice skating is,” he said, highlighting how physically demanding the sport can be.

For James, one of the aspects of the show that could benefit from more exposure is the behind-the-scenes tension. “There’s definitely a missed opportunity in not showing more of what happens backstage,” he said. He suggested that producers could show more of the prep that goes into each performance to give viewers a deeper understanding of the pressures contestants face. “Imagine the presenters splitting their duties—one up front, and one behind the scenes, talking to the contestants right before they go on. It would be amazing to hear, ‘I just saw you fall—how are you feeling right now?’ That kind of real-time engagement would create an incredible sense of tension.”

As the final of Dancing On Ice approaches, James expressed hope that future seasons might include more of these behind-the-scenes moments, saying, “If the show comes back next year, there’s definitely room for more coverage like this. The public would love to see the real action as it happens behind the scenes. There’s so much going on that people don’t get to see, and it’s such a big part of what makes the show so thrilling.”

Alongside the behind-the-scenes drama, this year’s Dancing On Ice has been marked by some major changes, including the announcement from judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean that they will be retiring from their judging roles after the finale. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, the skating legends revealed that Sunday’s finale would mark the end of their time as judges on the show. “This will be our last performance on Dancing On Ice,” Jayne confirmed, before adding that they would be going on tour, with their final performance taking place in Nottingham on July 12.

As Dancing On Ice reaches its conclusion, James’s insights into the backstage chaos remind viewers of just how much effort and emotion goes into every performance. With more behind-the-scenes access potentially in the works, it seems that fans could be in for an even more exciting, real-time experience of the show in the future.