How Happy Mondays’ Bez made Dancing on Ice history - with a crash helmet

Dancing on Ice made a return to our screens on Sunday (16 January) and kicked off with half of the 12 celebrity contestants taking to the ice to make their debut.

One of the first six contestants was Bez, best known for his involvement in indie rock band the Happy Mondays, and now regularly features alongside fellow band mate Shaun Ryder on Celebrity Gogglebox.

Bolton-born Bez whose real name is Mark Berry) has been paired with pro-skater Angela Egan, who last year won the competition with Capital FM’s Sonny Jay.

Just as he entered the rink to perform, host Phillip Schofield made a revelation that Bez was about to make history, as he was the first contestant in 14 series to wear a crash helmet whilst performing.

His long-term friend, Ryder, was in the crowd to cheer on Bez, who was lowered on to the ice, before skating with a melon-patterned helmet, surrounding by a few dancing melons as well as his ex-champion partner.

Despite his brave and historic performance, Bez only received a 12.5 rating out of 40, leaving him rock bottom on the leader board. However, judge Ashley Banjo still praised the 57-year-old.

Banjo said: “Bez, I’ve got to give it to you, you have got my respect.

“If anyone needed to wear a crash helmet, I don’t think they’d come out, whereas you come out and do it regardless.

“Let’s be real, this is dangerous and it is scary, and you are out here in all the pads and crash helmet.”

Fans praised Bez for even skating too, and thought he bought something extra to the show, due to his no care attitude.