Dancing on Ice star Vanessa Bauer goes public with ex-Reading FC footballer boyfriend before new series

Dancing on Ice's Vanessa Bauer has shared a series of loved-up posts from Lapland on Instagram with her former Reading FC, Cheltenham Town and Aldershot Town footballer boyfriend James Rowe

A Dancing on Ice star has bounced back from a break-up by finding new love with an ex-professional footie player.

28-year-old Vanessa Bauer has gone public with her former Reading FC love James Rowe as she shared loved-up Instagram posts from their winter wonderland holiday in Lapland.

Vanessa is gearing up to play another starring role on our telly screens next month when Dancing on Ice returns to ITV. She will be paired up with Love Island star Chris Taylor for the celebrity figure skating competition that is ITV’s answer to BBC smash hit Strictly Come Dancing.

And it looks like she is making the most of her time off as she enjoys visiting Santa Claus’s home in Finland’s northernmost region with her new bf.

James, 33, has also been sharing affectionate Instagram posts from their dream holiday. He is a football coach and FIFA licensed football agent retired from professional football after a career that saw him play for Reading FC, Cheltenham Town and Aldershot Town.

It comes after Vanessa split from Dan Underwood, who she had dated for nine months before they parted in June of this year.

Writing on Instagram, Vanessa also took the opportunity to reflect on her father’s death in 2021, and how she has now got to a place in her life where she feels “the happiest I've ever been.”

She told her fans: “A pull between feeling the happiest I’ve ever been but the moment I fly home for Christmas a different reality kicks in. I believe that the pulls between my upbringing, our families’ loss and the beautiful life I get to live now is not a burden but in a way it can be seen as a blessing.

“And I certainly am grateful for my family and the 25 years I got to know my dad."

Previously, Vanessa told The Sun newspaper that she was taking up acting alongside her figure skating career, and would even quit the show if this creative pursuit took off.

She told the paper: "My acting pursuit is going really well. I'm actually working on a movie right now as well, so I'm super excited for this to come out next year.

"I love Dancing On Ice and I would love to continue doing it for as long as I can but at the same time, other opportunities are piling up and I'm super grateful for everything coming my way right now."