OLYMPIC gold medallist Luke Campbell says home support has been overwhelming as he prepares to take to the ice again.
The boxer-turned-skater will compete on the ice against Coronation Street star Samia Ghadie tomorrow night to try to automatically win a place in the next round.
His first outing on the ice last Sunday saw him pick up 18.5 points out of a possible 40.
He said: "I would like to send a massive thank-you to the public who voted for me. They have given me the opportunity to be there this week.
"And a huge thank-you to everyone who watched. It is all these who have given me the chance to skate again.
"I am very grateful for that and for all the comments I have received about it. It has been overwhelming.
"This week I will be doing a dance-off against Samia Ghadie.
"I will dance first and then hand over to her and the judges will pick the better one.
"Whoever the judges pick will be safe from going out of the competition."
It will be his second time out on the ice and he says he will be going out relaxed and ready to put on a show for his fans.
"To be honest, I was nervous last week," he said. "It felt like I was given a hard routine.
"It involved a lot of solo skating. It was pure skating and I did three lifts and a couple of tricks, so it was a hard routine.
"I thought I performed it well, considering I have only been ice skating for a couple of months.
"I am trying my best. I am not the strongest skater there but I put 100 per cent into what I do.
"I want people to vote because they think I'm good and if you think I am then give me a vote and the chance to be there again next week."
Luke is currently training six days a week on the ice with partner Jenna Smith to perfect his routine for tomorrow night.
And it has not been without injury.
The boxer has bruised his cheek after a flying skate caught him in the face.
"I thought Jenna had sliced my face with the blade at first," he said.
"But fortunately not. My cheek is bruised but on the inside."
Luke says he is going out on the ice to enjoy himself.
"They said I was a bit stiff last week. My boxing coaches have been telling me that for 13 years.
"I relax when I box and this weekend I am going to go out there relaxed."
Luke skates again tomorrow at 6.15pm on ITV1.
