Stefan Booth Online

Young blade Stefan is a cool customer

PADWORTH actor Stefan Booth is fighting to become a skating champion in ITV's Dancing on Ice.

The 26-year-old, who grew up in west Berkshire, is one of only five celebrities left in the competition. He has to dance on ice every Saturday night with professional partner Kristina Cousins in an effort to win the judges' and viewers' votes and avoid elimination.

Stefan lived in Padworth with his father, Tony, a television cameraman, and his opera singer mother Michelle. He went to Highlands Nursery and Primary School in Tilehurst until he was six before moving to Crosfields School in Shinfield.

His first job entailed working on a farm in Kidmore End in the school holidays but after boarding school in Devon he moved to television - starring in Hollyoaks and The Bill.

During his latest television stint he has been trained by skating legends Torvill and Dean and competed against 10 celebrities including David Seaman, Bonnie Langford and Dame Kelly Holmes.

Mr Booth said: "Dancing on Ice is going so well and I am getting quite passionate about it. "I used to skate in Bracknell as a kid but only a couple of times and when I first started I was like a chimp on ice. "But I am improving every day and I am now learning a lot about nerves and fighting for survival."

Source: Reading Chronicle - Feb 15th 2006