THE Dancing on Ice judges were kept warm for their TV Christmas special by wearing special festive onesies made by Made in Britain member The All-in-One Company.
The ITV programme, which was shown on Sunday 22 December and is still available on the ITV Hub, ordered six cosy outfits for the four judges - Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo and John Barrowman – and two unnamed stars.
“It’s all a bit hush, hush but we’re assuming they were for Holly and Phil. We can’t wait to see,” said Kate Dawson, the founder of The All-in-One Company which has been hand-making lifetime lasting and made-to-measure onesies – including a perfect fit for 6ft 6 Ashley Banjo - since 2008.
A spokesperson for the show said: "The All-in-One Company helped create Christmas magic on Dancing on Ice at Christmas - keeping the supplied talent warm, comfortable and festive!"
Kate started the company, based in Ashington in Northumberland, after she could not find a suitable onesie for her three-year-old daughter Lilly who was too big for baby grows.
Lilly is now 18 and a digital marketing apprentice at The All-in-One Company and it was her Christmas designs on the company’s website which caught the eye of a Dancing on Ice producer.
“It’s gone full circle,” said Kate. “Lilly used to be really cold at night because she would kick off her covers, and that’s how it all began.”
In its 11 years The All-in-One Company has won numerous awards and made bespoke oneises for customers in more than 150 countries. It has just launched a new state-of-the art 3D website which allows people to build their own outfits, with a choice of dozens of fabrics, styles and accessories – such as ears, tails and mobile phone pockets.
“We’re proud to be a UK manufacturer and proud of what we have achieved. I’m also very proud of Lilly,” said Kate. “There was a lot of scepticism from people when we started, but we were the pioneers of a new item of clothing – and that doesn’t happen very often.”
The six festive onesies – two reindeer, two Scandinavian snuggles, one elf and a Santa – were sent at the start of December to the specially-built Dancing on Ice rink in Hertfordshire.
The programme is one of the highlights of the ITV Christmas schedule and the star line-up features TV presenter Ben Hanlin, model Caprice, Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, I’m A Celebrity star Joe Swash, ex-footballer Kevin Kilbane, Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg, Coronation Street actress Lisa George, ITV News presenter Lucrezia Millarini, Love Island’s Maura Higgins, presenter Michael Barrymore, Diversity dancer Perri Kiely and talk show host Trisha Goddard.
Gemma Collins, who hit the ice and the headlines after a dramatic fall in the last series, makes a guest appearance. The other Christmas special skaters will start competing against each other in January.
Dancing on Ice is not the first TV show to feature The All-in-One Company’s onesies. Stars from programmes including Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother, The X Factor and Comic Relief have all worn them. “We just need Strictly and I’m a Celebrity to complete the set,” said Kate, “but I’m not sure they need the warmth of our snuggletastic onesies.”
As well as its contribution to the nation’s Christmas entertainment, The All-in-One Company is also supporting some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. All of its offcuts are now turned into onesies for babies and children and donated to Baby Banks and Women’s Refuges across the country
Find out more about The All-in-One Company on their member profile page here
Member-created content 4 years ago | By Made in Britain