Seaman gets his skates on

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special took a blow yesterday when it was revealed that Paul Gascoigne was no longer taking part in the ice skatin

10:56 08 December 2004

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special took a blow yesterday when it was revealed that Paul Gascoigne was no longer taking part in the ice skating contest.

But true to form, former England and Arsenal goalie David Seaman has now saved the day and stepped into Gazza's place.

Seaman now has just ten days to master the art of figure skating and will be drawing on his ice hockey skills to get him through the BBC special.

Gazza slipped a disc during training in Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear and will be in London's Princess Grace Hospital for a week.

"He's heartbroken he can't take part in the show, because he's put a lot of effort into training," a show insider told the Sun newspaper.

"Seaman has been called in, but it's a huge task as we record on the 18th. Luckily he has played ice hockey in the past."

Gazza apparently sustained the injury after trying a particularly difficult ice skating move with Jimmy "Five Bellies" Gardner.

"We argued over who was Torvill and who was Dean. Then I tried to lift him and this terrible accident happened. I was crushed," he told the newspaper.

He added: "I wish David well in the contest."