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Dancing on Ice clash for Michaela Strachan as she strives to keep both ITV and BBC happy

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Dancing on Ice’s Michaela Strachan has a massive task on her hands next week as she juggles learning a brand new routine while also presenting live BBC series Winterwatch from Dorset.

Bookies have placed Michaela, 58, as the 5/2 favourite to win the ITV ice-skating series after watching her impressive debut performance on Sunday. But while she is let off having to compete this weekend as the remaining contestants make their debuts on the ice, she will need to perfect her second dance while also co-hosting alongside Chris Packham every evening from Tuesday 21 January.

Insiders said that her professional partner, Mark Hanretty will relocate to Dorset with her next week so they can continue training nearby ahead of rehearsals and planning for Winterwatch, which is screened live on BBC2 from the heart of RSPB Arne in Dorset.

Michaela, who lives in South Africa, says she jumped at the chance of signing for the ITV reality show because it meant she could stay in the UK with her son as he starts university here. One insider said: “Michaela is going to have her work cut out as she tries to perfect her routine for Dancing on Ice alongside preparing for Winterwatch each day. It’s going to be pretty full on, but she’s confident she can do it.”

While some sections of Winterwatch are pre-recorded, much of the hour-long show is live and Michaela admits it’s hard to say in advance what the series will show. One of her favourite aspects of the programme are the remote rigged cameras, which capture live action wildlife appearances from the site. “Every season they bring something to surprise us, something we weren’t expecting, something unscripted and I always love that.”

After she skated in Dancing on ice on Sunday, she was given a score of 30.5 out of 40 from the judges – the highest of the night. Jane Torvill told her: “That routine had everything. I loved the unison you have together – perfect.” Fans at home also enjoyed it, backing her to go all the way to becoming the show’s first female winner since Beth Tweddle lifted the trophy back in 2013. One fan took to social media to declare: ”Knew it. Solo skating, great performance. Michaela Strachan is our first female Dancing on Ice winner in 12 years.”

For Winterwarch, several films have been pre-recorded, including one about Rupert Kirkwood, nicknamed The Lone Kayaker, who has clocked up over 32,000 miles on the water over the past 20 years. Others feature avid otter photographer Christopher Wren, wetlands ranger and duck enthusiast Lira Vlencia and birding expert Jack Baddams, who is on a mission to spot a bittern for the first time. Chris declared: “We love redressing the fact that many people perceive it as a time of dormancy or disappearance, or even, dare I say it, death. But, in fact, winter is very much alive and an enormous amount is going on.”

Dancing on Ice airs every Sunday on ITV and ITVX

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