Bradford actress Jennifer Metcalfe survived the dreaded skate-off to advance through a dramatic qualification round in her debut appearance on TV series Dancing on Ice tonight.

Dressed in sparkling green, the 27-year-old of Holme Wood, who plays Mercedes McQueen in Hollyoaks, overcame a wobble as she landed a ‘roll up’ lift to earn compliments from the judges but was in the bottom three couples after a public phone vote.

Jennifer lined up alongside French international skater Sylvian Longchambon as one of the second batch of eight couples vying for a place in the competition proper.

During her first skate, dancing to Madonna’s Crazy for You, nerves told as halfway through the 90-second routine she slipped before regaining her composure. Earning a score of 12 out of 30, the judges were quick to flag up that error, but former Spice Girl Emma Bunton said she admired how she kept her head and the way she carried herself was “stunning”.

Choreographer Jason Gardiner said she let the nerves get the better of her but head judge, former figure skater Robin Cousins, remarked on a “smooth and clean” performance.

Her second attempt in the skate-off was more polished when she was up against former Neighbours star Craig McLachlan and model Elen Rivas, former partner of soccer star Frank Lampard. The judges demanded to see more of the romantic chemistry that was evident between Jennifer and her partner.

Stories in Sunday’s national newspapers reported the pair were smitten after weeks spent training and they finished their routine with a cheeky kiss in front of the television cameras.

The duo progress to weekly editions of the ITV series, featuring ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, to find a winner from 12 celebrity-professional skater couples.