Angela Rippon and Nadia Sawalha first to get Dancing on Ice boot

Angela Rippon and Nadia Sawalha's skating skills failed to impress as they became the first celebrities to leave the qualifying rounds of the new series of Dancing On Ice.

The pair were the first casualties of two special knock-out shows to whittle down the 16 contestants to 12 before the competition begins.

They faced a skate-off along with Nickelodeon presenter Laura Hamilton after receiving the fewest votes in last night's show.

Actress and TV presenter Sawalha, who scored nine out of 30, started with "great potential", judge Jason Gardiner said, but struggled skating on her own.

Presenter and former newsreader Rippon, 66, the oldest of the contestants, was described as "elegant" after scoring 11 out of 30.

After being voted off, she said she felt she had "let everyone down" at home.

Hamilton had earlier impressed with an energetic fast-paced performance, which the judges gave 16 out of 30.

Judge Robin Cousins said it was "fantastic" while Emma Bunton said she was "excited" by Hamilton's routine.

Former Coronation Street actor Steven Arnold, who played Ashley Peacock, was the first to step on to the ice with a routine to Madness's hit House of Fun with professional Nina Ulanova. He scored a lowly seven out of 30.

Gardiner said: "You were relying heavily on Nina. You have to be the male presence in this partnership."

Victoria Cross hero Johnson Beharry partnered Jodeyne Higgins in a competent display.

Cousins said he was "moving like an ice skater" but Gardiner said there was "absolutely no performance".

Kerry Katona scored a respectable 14 with an emotional number to Adele's Make You Feel My Love in front of her daughters who were in the audience and Jeff Brazier scored 11 in a lively performance before Vanilla Ice rocked the rink in leather trousers to Word Up.

Speaking to the rapper, Gardiner said: "It was a great routine, it certainly played to all of your strengths. My biggest concern is how are you going to adapt to different styles?"

The ITV show has undergone a number of changes since the last series with judge Karen Barber leaving the panel to be head coach while Nicky Slater has not been replaced leaving just three judges.

The second half of the contestants, including Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's daughter Chloe Madeley and model Elen Rivas, will perform next week in the second of the qualifying rounds.