STAR skater Suzanne Shaw says she loves being a part of the Dancing on Ice tour because it's all about having fun.

After winning the television series in 2008 and being named favourite to win the final champion of champion series this year, she was spectacularly knocked out and the first to be voted off.

Out on the road, without the pressure of performing for live television, she says she is having the time of her life.

"I don't know what happened on the TV series, personally I thought I should have won," she jokes.

"Seriously, it's nice to be favourite but at the end of the day it's a game show.

"I got a great score on my best skate, I'm happy with that, I just lost it on the skate off. Nerves kicked in."

The former Hear'Say singer adds: "The live show is going to be a lot more fun as it's not going to be that competitive.

"Still it's quite stressful and I think more so because we're at a level now where we're being pushed to do harder things, to make it look a lot more spectacular.

"The pressure was so intense on TV. People were injured, and nervous because they wouldn't quite get a move right, it was a lot harder. You could really feel the nerves.

"On tour, we're skating routines we know we can skate and having a lot more fun."

The Dancing on Ice farewell tour, which visits the Glasgow Hydro from April 11 to 13, is headlined by Ray Quinn, ITV1's Dancing on Ice 2014 winner and Champion of Champions.

Appearing alongside Suzanne and her partner Matt Evers are former England rugby captain Kyran Bracken, singer Gareth Gates, theatre star Bonnie Langford, comedian Joe Pasquale, Coronation Street's Hayley Tamaddon and Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle.

The four-week UK tour kicked off in Manchester and fans will see their favourite skating couples competing live for the judges' votes and the audience can use their mobile phones to text vote for their favourite celebrity to win.

Audience votes will then be added to the scores from the judges to decide the winners.

All of the celebrities will be trained and choreographed by Jayne Torvill and Chris Dean, who will perform routines choreographed exclusively for the live tour, including a final performance of their legendary, Olympic-winning Bolero.

"It's going to be spectacular because it is the final show and it's about celebrating Jane and Chris's 30th anniversary of winning the Winter Olympics," says Suzanne, from Machester, who rose to fame after winning the talent contest Popstars and going on to appear in Emmerdale.

When the tour finishes, Suzanne says she is looking forward to a holiday and a well-earned rest.

She hints that she could be back on television screens soon but can't reveal anything yet.

In the meantime she has been working on plans for a musical with Ben Adams from A1.

"It's basically an 80s sci-fi musical, Flight of the Conchords meets Flash Gordon meets Star Wars," she smiles. "It's really quite bonkers, very comic book-esque.

"We've pretty much completed it, just a few more bits and pieces to sort out. The interest has been brilliant so I couldn't be happier. But it's still a long way off before it comes to putting it on stage."

Dancing on Ice Live is at the Hydro, Glasgow, from April 11 to 13. For tickets call 0141 248 3000 or long on to www.ticketzone.co.uk