Ray Quinn was kicked in the head while training for ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The former ‘X Factor’ favourite almost had his skull sliced open by his skating partner Maria Filippov’s ice-skate when they were practicing one particularly tricky move for the ITV show.
Ray said: "I’m loving it. It felt really strange at first being back. It’s such a big show and I’ve not skated once since last time. There’s more to prove this time and I’m feeling the pressure."
Discussing his tough training sessions, he added: "Maria Filippov and I were doing a slip from underneath. Her legs came up too far, I stood up too quickly and her skates caught my head. I was bleeding."
The pint-sized pop star has shed an impressive stone in a bid to get fit for his grand return to the ice for the first time since winning the 2009 series.
Ray told OK! magazine: "I wanted to do something about my weight and get in the gym. I started in October because I knew I needed to be fit to do panto and the ice-skating, so I started working out, went on a juice diet and got a nutritionist on board. I’ve lost just over a stone."