Dancing on Ice champion Beth Tweddle will be adding some sparkle to Claire House Children’s Hospice’s annual Strictly on Saturday 28th September. Here, the retired gymnast, 39, reveals her judging style as she chats about the competition, joining A-listers at the Olympics, and how motherhood makes her even more passionate about helping Claire House.
What inspired you to help Claire House?
I’ve done a few events for Claire House over time.
My two passions are gymnastics and working with children and Claire House supports seriously ill children and their families, so it aligned with my values.
Being a mum, does it resonate more?
Definitely! I’ve got a two-year-old, Finley, and Freya, who is five, and they keep me on my toes! As a mum of two children, I can see the benefits of having Claire House now even more.
You only really see the benefits of having a place like that when you need it and, when children and families do need help, it’s there. That’s why I’m so happy to be able to help Claire House support families on their journey.
When I visited, it really hit home how special it is – and that was even before I had children of my own. The children at Claire House were excited about going there to play or colour. They see it as a place to have fun, but from speaking to the parents, it means so much to the families.
What makes Claire House special?
Being able to give children the opportunity to do what they want to do is so important. It’s what I do in my day job. Claire House gives some amazing, memory making opportunities for children and their families.
I think most people have a very different idea of what places like Claire House are like. It’s a happy place too! I’ve had friends that have visited adult hospices, and they weren’t the morbid places they’d expected. Claire House does what it can to make it as homely as possible for families.
Why did you want to get involved with Claire House does Strictly?
I judged in 2015 and I had so much fun! The next year, I took a table of friends and I conned one of my best friends, Suzanne, into dancing. We had the best time. She really enjoyed it and she’s coming with me on Saturday.
What’s your judging style?
It will be constructive criticism. Ultimately, I’ve been on the receiving end of criticism when I did Dancing on Ice and I’ve been there when judges criticise without positives.
They’ve worked so hard and most of them are doing it around full-time jobs, and completely stepping out of their comfort zone, so you’ve got to take that into consideration.
I’m probably not like any of the judges on the actual Strictly, I’m myself. I’m definitely not like Craig!
What was it like to lift the trophy on Dancing on Ice?
I was on the show in 2013 – it feels like a lifetime ago!
My advice would be to go out there and enjoy it, because they may feel nervous, but they’ve worked so hard. I can guarantee once they’ve done it, they’ll just want to go out and do it again.
My husband and I had our first dance choreographed for our wedding [in 2018]. We danced to Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years and I found someone on the internet to choreograph it.
My husband [Andy Allen] was nervous, it’s not his thing at all. But afterwards he wished he could do it again – that’s how the dancers will feel on Saturday night.
Did dancing become a passion after Dancing on Ice?
I love it, but I still don’t think I can dance!
I loved the whole experience of being out of your comfort zone. For me, I’d never done ice skating or performed with a partner. Doing gymnastics was very much an individual sport, you worked with teammates, but I was never reliant on a partner. I’m sure the contestants this year will find it very strange to be with an individual that you have to trust. On Dancing on Ice, I had to trust another individual [Dancing on Ice partner Dan Whiston] because he was throwing me around.
Can you share a memorable moment?
I don’t think there was just one moment. But I’d say the friendships I made on the show. I keep in touch with Daniel – he was Master of Ceremonies at our wedding.
[After winning the ITV show, the dancing pair also took part in an adrenaline-fuelled Zipwire Challenge in Snowdonia for Claire House, back in 2013]
And I keep in contact with Lukasz Rozycki, who was my partner [for the All Stars show] a year later.
What else did you take away from it?
I loved being able to step away from competitive gymnastics and find something else to do, and to have that opportunity straight off the back of the Olympics. For me, it was about realising I was more than a gymnast. And that if you put your mind to something you can do it! I’m a bit of a perfectionist.
You provided commentary at the Olympics 2024 in Paris. How was that?
I loved it! It was nice to be back on location. For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, we didn’t get to go to Japan because of Covid, and a lot of the other events we do from Manchester, so just being out there and getting down to the gym was great. All these A listers watched, which for gymnastics in general is bizarre. It’s not something that’s ever happened with our sport. So, to see Tom Cruise, Ariana Grande, John Legend, Snoop Dogg – people you only see on TV or big events – watching our sport was incredible.
What do you have planned next?
My business, Beth Tweddle Gymnastics, joined with Gymfinity kids, in September. So, it means we can give more children the opportunity to have a go at gymnastics and see if they love it. We’re in the process of rolling out more academy venues. My passion is getting kids involved in gymnastics and this brings that to life.
Claire House does Strictly takes place at Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel on Saturday night. Watch it at home live from 9pm: www.clairehouse.org.uk/strictly
Find out more about the dancers and donate here: www.justgiving.com/campaign/chstrictly24
