Chico finishes third in Dancing On Ice final

Chico finishes third in Dancing On Ice final
Chico finishes third in Dancing On Ice final

Chico has finished in third place in the Dancing On Ice 2012 final, following the first half of the show which saw the finalists perform two routines each. The former X Factor star missed out on the chance to perform the Bolero after receiving the lowest number of votes from viewers. His departure now means that either Matthew Wolfenden or Jorgie Porter will be crowned series champion after both have performed the classic Torvill and Dean routine. Chico - who joined the show as a late addition after Chesney Hawkes pulled out with a broken leg - took the defeat graciously, saying "I've fallen in love with a sport I never thought I would. "The people at home have given me this chance to come back and show the real me, I love you and I thank you." He also paid tribute to his skating partner Jodeyne Higgins, saying, "This is the most incredible lady. My wife is over there and my child, but this one is second best. I love you!" Earlier in the show Chico - who had been the bookies' favourite to leave first - had finished bottom of the judges' scoreboard after almost dropping skating partner Jodeyne Higgins during his first routine. The faux pas, which happened during his showcase performance to the Happy Days theme, led to him scoring only 26 points compared to Matthew's full house amd Jorgie's 29 out of 30. However the judges were sympathetic towards the 40-year-old, with Louie Spence telling him, "I have always championed you, you have always been the ultimate performer," and Robin Cousins adding, "The first half was fantastic, such great energy." Chico also scored a full house for his second routine, a reprisal of his Sexy And I Know It dance from earlier in the series.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.