FORMER Yorkshire cricketer - Ryan Sidebottom - is the latest celebrity to leave ITV’s Dancing on Ice.

Ryan, who has been training at Bradford Ice Arena with his skating partner, American ice skating professional Brandee Malto, left Sunday evening’s show following a double eviction along with fellow Dancing on Ice contestant, Coronation Street’s Jane Danson and her professional ice skating partner Sylvain Longchambon.

Film footage of Ryan cricket coaching at Woodhouse Grove School in Apperley Bridge, Bradford, was shown during Sunday evening’s show.

“I do a little bit of coaching at Woodhouse Grove and Leeds Grammar School,” says Ryan, adding it keeps him connected with the game and also enables him to pass on his knowledge to others.

Ryan credits Bradford for supporting him through the show - especially the staff at Bradford Ice Arena where he and Brandee felt among ‘family.’

Bradford Ice Arena coach, Sarah George, and Bradford skater, Monica Banks, were invited to the live show to watch Ryan's first performance.

“I cannot speak highly enough about Bradford (Ice Arena). Everybody has been so accommodating, they have been absolutely lovely. It’s like a family. I will miss everybody at Bradford,” says Ryan.

When Ryan began training for ITV’s popular show in October it was the first time he had pulled on a pair of ice skates.

Ryan summed up the initial experience in a previous interview: “I had never skated before in my entire life so in terms of the journey and the story so far when I got on the ice I was holding on to the side, scared stiff.

“I couldn’t move, it was the worst feeling in the world,” he recalls.

He says he is proud of the fact he and Brandee got so far in the competition, which sees the celebrity contestants judged on the routines they perform weekly with their professional ice dancing partners, by a celebrity judging panel including Olympic ice dancing champions, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

Ryan and Brandee made it through to week seven but it wasn’t an easy ride. Ryan previously suffered an injury forcing him to miss crucial practice sessions - but despite the setback he and Brandee survived a previous skate off.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get that far,” says Ryan.

“But I probably got as far as I possibly could in terms of skating ability.”

He credits the support he has had along the way, including on social media.

“We have had lots and lots of humbling messages saying we made people smile and that is nice to hear. We have had lots of lovely feedback from people,” says Ryan, referring to the woman whose 11-year-old daughter had now taken up skating after watching him on the show.

He says he is now looking forward to meeting up with everyone from the show in the finals.

“It was absolutely brilliant, to be on such a major show in front of millions of people is something I will always remember.”

But will he keep on skating? “All my family want to go to Bradford (Ice Arena),” he says.

Watch Dancing on Ice from 6pm on ITV on Sunday (February 24).