Adele Roberts has revealed Dancing On Ice has helped her ‘reclaim’ her body and is ‘healing’ her chemotherapy-damaged feet following her bowel cancer battle.
The broadcaster and Big Brother star, 44, who announced on Sunday that her mum had passed away, detailed the joys and sorrows of taking part on the ITV show – hailing her reason for joining as ‘a celebration of life’ in a candid confessional.
Speaking on her show intro, Adele said: ‘I didn’t know if they’d be able to operate so I’ve just taken each day, day by day, ever since I’ve been diagnosed. I’ve not banked on anything. I’ve just hoped that things can get better…
‘This is all part of that process, and I think one of the main reasons I want to do [DOI] is not only to help celebrate and represent ostomates (people who have stoma bags), but also just reclaim my body from cancer, and DOI has helped with that.’
The DJ, who was first diagnosed in October 2021, left viewers and judges astonished after scoring the highest score of the series so far – 27.5 – with her debut routine with Scottish ice dancer Mark Hanretty on Sunday’s episode.
The BBC presenter detailed how her feet were one of the most damaged parts of her body from the chemotherapy treatment – although it didn’t certainly stop her from taking on the challenge.
She said: ‘So my feet have been very damaged by the chemo, and because you’re on ice, and there’s not much friction, my feet have started to heal, which is amazing…
‘And we’ve been speaking a lot today on these sessions as well about how much of a good workout it is for your body, and I just feel like I’m getting stronger every day, so even though I’m also falling over, it’s helping me have more confidence.’
Earlier this month she said of her feet: ‘Morning everybody, just hiding my feet because they’re disgusting, [I’m] gonna give you an update on how they’re getting on, the chemo has shredded them again…
‘So, they get better a little bit, and I’ll show you what happens. Basically, the bottom falls off my feet. I manage it with painkillers and [her girlfriend] Kate’s also about to put some plasters on them, thank you Kate’.
Adele was quick to lavish praise upon her fellow contestants, proving a healthy competition is rife among the stars.
She said: ‘I’ve been learning off the brilliant people that I get to be on the show with, you know, especially Lou (Sanders) and Claire (Sweeney), they’ve been helping me come up of my shell. I feel like I’m really learning what a woman should look like.’
The radio host also revealed she would ‘love’ to visibly show her stoma bag while competing on the dance skating show.
‘I want anybody who feels any awkwardness or shame about their stoma to know that it’s OK and you can celebrate your body,’ she said.
The TV personality unveiled further challenges saying her ‘gentleman’ partner Mark, 38, has to be ‘very mindful’ when he picks her up so he doesn’t touch the stoma bag as she is ‘very vulnerable’ there.
As the hotly-anticipated ice dancing competition finally came back to the ITV screens on January 14, Holly Willoughby once again hosted alongside co-host Stephen Mulhern for the second week running.
Adele was quite the star of the night as she wowed judges after earning the highest score of the series so far.
Meanwhile, Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, 59, gave the broadcaster a run for her money as he also topped the leaderboard with the exact same score.
The former Big Brother star broke down in tears after her high score was revealed, as her and Mark skated to the song Clearly by Grace VanderWaal – despite one unsteady moment as Mark skidded on the ice and briefly fell.
Judge Christopher Dean joked about the tumble during his scoring, saying he gave Adele 7.0 and Mark 6.0.
Adele’s girlfriend Kate Holderness was in tears as she along with others gave the pair a standing ovation.
Commenting on her emotional performance, she said: ‘What an absolute dream, everything I have been through it was worth it for this moment.’
In their pre-routine VT Mark called Adele ‘inspiring’ as he explained: ‘I have never skated with anyone with a stoma and literally has a hole in their stomach.’
Adele was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2021 and documented her treatment on social media, which included colostomy surgery to remove a bowel tumour and having a stoma bag fitted.
The former Radio 1 host also candidly discussed the precautions taken in order for her perform on the ice with her stoma.
‘Being new to the world of stomas, I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ve realised that Audrey – that’s what I call it – doesn’t like the ice’.
‘She’s very quiet. She’s been a joy, actually. I’ve noticed that because I’ve got a hole on the right side of my torso, I don’t have a centre where it used to be’.
Adele admitted she was having to ‘relearn’ how to use her body and said rotating her midriff was still quite difficult.
‘I’ve got to really, really think about my movement on the ice but it’s helped me connect with my body, so it’s been a blessing as well.
In 2022, Adele was filmed at home with her partner Kate who helped the star changed her stoma bag – a candid moment that was praised by viewers.
Adele revealed in an October 2021 Instagram post that she was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer, and later underwent colostomy surgery to remove a bowel tumour later that year.
After Kate changed her stoma bag, Adele told her girlfriend ‘I can’t believe I’ve been to the toilet in front of you,’ only for Kate to tell her ‘I don’t see it like that, explaining that she sees the stoma as a ‘separate entity…. it’s like we’re changing our baby.’
The end of the segment showed Adele thanking Kate for ‘accepting my new body’ from the very start of her cancer journey.
It comes after Adele has revealed that her ‘beautiful’ mother Jackie Roberts passed away earlier this month in a heartbreaking post shared – following her ’emotional’ performance on the ITV skating show earlier in the evening.
The Radio 1 presenter explained she didn’t want to share the news of her mother’s passing until after her performance on Dancing On Ice.
Referencing the routine, Adele shared it was dedicated to the memory of her late mother, while also explaining she was ‘overly emotional’ on air because of her recent heartbreak.
In touching pictures she posted, Adele showed Jackie her skating shoes and clips of herself performing on stage.
Alongside the touching pictures, she wrote: ‘For you Mum. Tonight’s performance was dedicated to the memory of my beautiful Mum, Jackie Roberts. 01.09.62 – 04.01.24.
‘I didn’t want to say anything until I’d managed to get through our routine tonight. So apologies if it seemed I was overly emotional.
‘My heart is broken and I miss my mum so much. Saying goodbye to her this week was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. My mum got to see the start of our routine… and tonight I wanted to finish it in her honour.
‘To my family. Thank you for keeping my head up and for giving me the strength to carry on. Thank you also to all the amazing people who came to help us say goodbye to her this week. You brought us so much comfort standing by our side.
‘Thank you to the whole incredible Dancing On Ice team for guiding me through one of the toughest weeks of my life. Especially you @markhanretty.
‘I know how much you wanted to help me do my mum proud and I know it would have been playing on your mind all night. You are incredible.
‘Thank you for teaching me to dance, to skate and joy of expressing emotion through my body. Your sport is so beautiful. I still can’t believe tonight happened.
‘Thank you to every single person who has supported us so far. We are absolutely blown away by your encouragement and kindness. Mark and I are truly grateful and we promise to keep trying our best and give it 100%.
‘And to my biggest supporter from day one – my incredible mum. Goodnight my love. I shall think of you and miss you everyday of my life. Forever my hero. Until we meet again ❤️’.
Her celebrity friends and Dancing On Ice co-stars rushed to the comments to pay tribute to Jackie as well as support Adele.
On Sunday’s episode, former pro boxer Ricky Hatton was the first celebrity to be eliminated from ice skating competition after facing the dreaded skate off with comedian Lou Saunders.
Judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo chose to save Lou after she danced her second performance of the night.
Last week, Ricky, 45, and his partner Robyn Johnstone landed bottom of the leaderboard after he was scored 12.5 points, while Lou, 38, and her partner Brendyn Hatfield was awarded a higher 19.5 during Sunday’s show.
Jayne and Christopher also graced the ice during the show with a brilliant performance for the first time of the series.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
