Dancing on Ice’s Adele Roberts praises co-star for helping her “reclaim” her body

Dancing on Ice star Adele Roberts has praised her skating partner Mark Hanretty for helping “reclaim” her body after battling cancer.

Speaking to Radio Times, Roberts, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, praised her professional skating partner, crediting him with reconnecting her with her body.

“Mark has taught me to get my head up, to just present myself and know my body better,” she said.

ITV

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“With what I’ve been through health-wise, I think I was a bit disconnected from my body, but Mark has helped me reclaim my body and be able to fully function.”

The former BBC Radio 1 DJ announced that she was cancer-free in June 2022 after undergoing treatment for bowel cancer, which included chemotherapy and surgery.

Sharing a post to Instagram, she wrote: “The day I’ve been waiting for. Hearing the words ‘you’re free of cancer’ absolutely took my breath away. I keep replaying it in my mind. It was the most beautiful sound I think I’ve ever heard. Even though I was praying Dr Khan would say that to me, I don’t think my head let me believe it until I heard it.

ITV

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“Everything we’ve been through seems to be swirling around in my body and life feels a bit surreal at the moment… BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL! I am counting my blessings. I am also in awe of anyone dealing with cancer. The courage, the strength, the determination… and at times, the humour you have shown has been nothing short of super human.”

Back when Roberts’ casting was announced for the skating show, she said: “I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away. I did radio as it’s not visual. That’s going to be a big challenge.”

Adele takes to the ice for the first time tonight (Sunday 21) after the first six celebrities skated last weekend.

Dancing on Ice airs on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.

If you would like more information or support about living with cancer or treatment, please click here for guidance from Macmillan Cancer Support, or click here to learn more from Stand Up to Cancer.

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