By Maureen Coleman

She may be going out with Hollyoaks star Gerard McCarthy, but Bangor beauty Zoe Salmon will be spending Valentine's Day in the arms of another man.

However Belfast actor Gerard hasn't been given the cold shoulder, it's just Zoe will be in training with her Dancing On Ice partner Matt Evers.

Zoe was back in Northern Ireland this week as part of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day campaign and when Sugahfix.com caught up with her, she explained why her plans for romance would be put on ice.

"I can't really plan anything special for Valentine's Day as I'll spend all day Saturday in rehearsals for Dancing On Ice," she said. "So my Valentine's Day will be spent with the rest of the skaters - and in the arms of another man."

The former Blue Peter presenter, who had just returned from visiting a Comic Relief-funded project in Lisburn, said she was loving every minute of Dancing On Ice - and thanked the voting public who have helped her stay in each week.

"I really look forward to getting my ice training schedule and have such great fun with Matt, but it's also very hard work and quite scary as well," she said.
"I've been very lucky so far with the judges and their comments and scores, but to know that people at home are voting for me is so important.

"Before I began Dancing On Ice I was really worried about the judges, particularly Jason Gardiner, but he's been so positive about me so far, and whatever negative criticism I've got has been constructive.

"But I don't want the judges to think that I'm not improving week on week, that's why it's so important for me to keep getting better.

"I don't compete with the others - I try not to think about what everyone else is doing - but I want to push myself to be as good as I can.

"I get goosebumps when I hear myself described as the dark horse of the competition and I want to go out there and do the best I can for Matt, for myself and for everyone who is voting for me."

Zoe said she trusted Matt "200%" and was happy to place her safety in his hands.

"I have been a bit of a daredevil in the past and this is one sport I've always wanted to learn, so I want to make the most of the experience.

"Matt is brilliant and I know I'm safe with him. He won last year with Suzanne Shaw and she's been so supportive of me. I'm loving being on the show and don't want to leave, so I hope people continue to vote for me."

Zoe also revealed that she will be performing this weekend to one of her all-time favourite 80s tracks.  "I really hope I do it justice because I really love this song and I don't want to look back, in years to come, and have really bad memories associated with it," she said. "It's a great song and hopefully will have everybody dancing along."