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Dancing On Ice Pro Nearly Quit After Celeb Partner’s Tragic Death

BBG News

Colin Grafton, a contestant on the final season of “Dancing on Ice” on ITV, confessed that he considered leaving the show earlier this year due to the passing of his former professional partner and dear friend, The Vivienne.

On January 5th, the contestant from Drag Race UK, originally known as James Lee Williams, tragically passed away, only days before the series premiere. His death was due to a cardiac arrest caused by ketamine use, after spending years in recovery and openly discussing his struggles with substance abuse.

2023 marked a groundbreaking moment for me, Colin, and The Vivienne, as we made history on the show. As the first drag queen competitor, I had the privilege of reaching the finale alongside The Vivienne. However, it was Olympian Nile Wilson who ultimately claimed victory.

However, Colin expressed doubt about resuming his skating career after the death of his cherished friend, even though he had been preparing with new partner Mollie Pearce, aged 23, for several months. The show featuring them was eventually halted by producers due to dwindling viewership.

He shared with The Mirror: “It was quite challenging for me to mentally prepare for the series, and I had moments where I questioned whether I would participate at all. However, my partner Mollie and the other professionals were incredibly supportive, and they all played a crucial role in helping me through this.

Although it was quite tough, Mollie and I were determined because we had invested a tremendous amount of effort into it. And I believe that’s exactly what Viv would have expected – for us to persevere and prove the results of our hard labor to everyone. That’s precisely what we accomplished.

In 2023, Colin first appeared on the program, pairing with The Vivienne as his initial celebrity counterpart. This unique arrangement, he noted, added an extra layer of significance to their collaboration.

Clearly, I felt deeply saddened by the end of the 2025 show and needed some time afterward to cope, as I didn’t have a moment to grieve during the event itself. For me, that entire season with The Vivienne was exceptionally memorable and significant.

In her passing, I find myself struggling to find the right words. With a profound sense of sorrow, I bid farewell to my dearly cherished friend and skating companion, The Vivienne.

Viv has always been an undeniable symbol in every aspect, leaving an inspiring impact on countless individuals around the globe through their actions and achievements.

He went on saying: ‘They managed to bring a sense of brightness wherever they stepped foot, providing hope to countless individuals who were otherwise devoid of it. I find myself deeply saddened.’

The achievements we shared on Dancing On Ice were nothing short of extraordinary, and it’s clear that your courage and our teamwork touched the hearts of countless individuals.

I’ll never stop feeling proud of what we achieved together. Vivian, your spirit, resilience, and compassion will always remain a lasting impression on me and everyone you interacted with. I will always treasure the time we spent together on and off the ice, and you will forever hold a special place in my heart as my own ‘Mary Poppins’.

I’ll make sure to hold your memories dear as I go through life, for you imparted wisdom in countless areas and I remain deeply thankful. Your impact continues to resonate.

It wasn’t until 2019, during RuPaul’s Drag Race, that The Vivienne’s sister, Chanel, discovered the family had been unaware of The Vivienne’s battle with drug addiction.

In a 2019 episode of the program, the native of Liverpool confessed to the audience that he struggled with a four-year addiction to recreational drugs.

‘I couldn’t leave the drugs at the party, it was constant,’ they said, breaking down in tears. 

At the peak of their addiction, Vivienne once referred to ketamine as their “meal thrice a day.” Regrettably, their drug abuse resulted in three hospitalizations within a span of just one month at that time.

Despite the fact that Chanel’s brother had successfully maintained sobriety for quite some time prior to his relapse, they were also not aware of his subsequent drug usage, which he concealed from them.

Chanel is now pondering if there might have been some action she could have taken to avert her brother’s unfortunate demise.

She told the BBC that if she had posed the questions or simply sought the indicators, might the result have been altered?

In the town of Chorlton-by-Backford, close to Chester, The Vivienne was tragically discovered deceased in their bathroom at home. Police investigations concluded that no unusual circumstances led to this unfortunate event. Later, it was disclosed by the family that the drag queen’s passing was due to complications related to ketamine use.

As a devoted admirer, I find myself reflecting on Chanel’s perspective. She expressed her belief that, even though her brother openly discussed his past battles with drugs, the success of their career has presented a challenge when it comes to seeking help.

She remarked that he was excelling in all his undertakings, and given his public declaration, it seems challenging for him to admit difficulties once more, she stated.

Chanel mentioned that she and her family plan to address the social bias towards addiction, as a tribute to her brother’s memory.

She mentioned that it’s difficult for her to imagine how things might be different if the stigma weren’t present, as she wonders if her brother would have sought help if it didn’t exist.

If only we had known, or if he had felt comfortable enough to express his needs and accept assistance, things might have turned out differently.

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2025-04-27 15:20

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