MORE SECTIONS

  • Social Casino

MORE FROM THE SUN

  • Newsletters

frankie poultney cruise ship

Inside David Seaman & Frankie Poultney’s relationship as they open up about blended family & keeping spark alive

  • Alison Maloney
  • Published : 16:00 ET, Sep 17 2022
  • Updated : 14:09 ET, Jan 17 2024

FRANKIE Poultney couldn't wait to get her skates back on when Dancing on Ice returned to ITV after a four year hiatus in 2018.

But the professional skater was left angry and disappointed when TV bosses made the skaters audition for the role, before ditching her by email.

Frankie Poultney met husband David Seaman through Dancing On Ice

Three years on, in an exclusive chat with Frankie, 48, and husband David Seaman to mark their new roles as ambassadors for the British Heart Foundation, the former DOI star says losing her TV job has made her life happier.

“The show was really great to me for the first 10 years but when it came back, there was a lack of communication,” she tells The Sun .

“But entertainment is really difficult - one day you're hot, the next you're not.

“I was coming to the end of my career anyway and it was difficult to deal with not being a professional skater anymore, because that defined me since I was 10 years old.

“But I have been on tour my entire life, living out of two suitcases and working every Christmas and birthday, so to be at home felt like a huge luxury for me.

“I loved that life at the time. But now being able to come home at night is a huge blessing and I probably appreciate it more than most, because I’ve never had that.

“I feel so lucky, because I have a lovely home situation and I've got a great husband.”

At the time of the axe Frankie - who met former goalie David , 58, through the show - slammed bosses for dumping the pros with the same email calling it “disrespectful and disparaging”.

Most read in Lifestyle

Bianca Censori's 'absurd outfits are anti-fashion' but copycat stars 'envy her'

Bianca Censori's 'absurd outfits are anti-fashion' but copycat stars 'envy her'

I thrifted a $20 pair of shoes - I knew their true value when I saw the soles

I thrifted a $20 pair of shoes - I knew their true value when I saw the soles

I make purses - it's gross that an ordinary design is dirtier than a toilet

I make purses - it's gross that an ordinary design is dirtier than a toilet

I wanted Botox for my forehead wrinkles - my mom's cheaper tip worked instead

I wanted Botox for my forehead wrinkles - my mom's cheaper tip worked instead

She also said the treatment had been “heartbreaking” because she “lived and breathed the show.”

But speaking at their Berkshire home Frankie - who laughingly describes herself as ‘small and gobby’ - says she’s put the row behind her, even though she no longer watches the show.

“I'm not really the type of person who just sits down quietly and goes 'oh ok’,” she says.

“Anybody who knows me would say I'm a force of nature, but I'm always fair. There were a lot of poorly handled situations, but people move on.

“The transition was hard, to not be able to say 'I'm a professional skater'. But I'm 48 for God's sake, I can't say that for the rest of my life.

“Nobody wants to see a middle-aged woman in Lycra knickers on their telly on a Sunday night.”

Instant attraction

The couple - who are presenting a gong at the Heart Hero Awards tonight - met in 2007, when Frankie was partnered with David’s pal Lee Sharpe on her debut year on Dancing On Ice, a year after his own stint on the show.

But romance blossomed a year later on the show's live tour.

“The attraction was there straight away, as obviously it needs to be - and that attraction is still there right now,” David explains sweetly.

Both born in Yorkshire the couple, who wed in 2015, radiate warmth and affection for each other, with laughter and easy banter punctuating their conversation.

“Everybody loves David when they first meet him,” says Frankie. “He's got such an infectious laugh. He's so funny all the time. He's always happy.

“We're both from South Yorkshire - he’s from Rotherham and I’m from Sheffield - so we connected on that level and we found we had a lot in common, because we’re both athletes, we've both toured our whole lives and we have the same sense of humour.

“We're so lucky we found each other.”

“We're so lucky we found each other” Frankie Poultney

After 13 years, the pair have managed to keep the flame alive and say spending more time together during lockdown was a blessing.

“We make each other laugh every day and we have a great time together,” says David.

“In lockdown, we had a fantastic time starting some home projects, lots of DIY, and I even learned to bake sourdough.”

Frankie, David’s third wife, is proud of the relationship she has with his grown up children Dan, 35, Thomas, 33, Georgina, 20 and Robbie, 19.

“I'm really blessed that I have a really good relationship with my stepkids because I know sometimes blended families can be a difficult dynamic,” she says.

“The older ones were adults when I first met them and the younger two have grown from being eight and nine years old to adults during that time. They’ve all got mums so they've never needed me to be a second parent in their lives by any means.

“But I sleep well at night, knowing they would say that I've always treated them with respect and welcomed them with open arms into the house.”

Tragedy behind support for heart charity

Now both retired from their respective sports, the couple spend much of their time doing charity work, including a long term involvement with the British Heart Foundation and the charity’s Heart Hero Awards.

The annual ceremony, held virtually this year, is hosted by the BHF to recognise and honour incredible people.

From researchers and doctors, to brave children who have fought dangerous heart conditions, this year’s Heart Hero Awards is celebrating those who have supported the BHF through the pandemic, which the charity says has been the toughest time in their 60 year history.

Their support for the charity was borne out of personal experience and tragedy, in particular the death of Sir David Frost’s son Miles, at the age of 31.

Arsenal legend David, a close friend of the late broadcaster and his family, was devastated when Miles collapsed and died from an undiagnosed heart condition while running near his Oxfordshire home in 2015.

The tragedy came two years after the legendary broadcaster died of a heart attack at 74 while onboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

“Miles and his brothers George and Will were three young lads who were enjoying life and Miles was superfit, and training for a marathon at the time,” says David.

“He died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and had it been diagnosed he would still be here.

“We want to get more awareness out there and get more people to check themselves out because sometimes you don't feel anything, and then all of a sudden that happens.

“That and the collapse of Christian Erikson from a cardiac arrest in the Euros, this summer, brought home that it can happen to anyone, no matter how young and fit you are.”

David met the chat show host, an avid Arsenal fan, after saving three penalties in a shootout against Sampdoria and being invited onto his TV show the following day.

He is godson to Sir David’s youngest son George and close to his widow, Lady Carina.

“They're a brilliant family and they’ve been through a lot," he says.

"I don't know how they coped with two massive bereavements in the family. I suppose you learn to live with it, but they will never forget Miles.”

To help with their grief, the family set up the Miles Frost Fund, under the umbrella of the BHF, and raised millions for research and screening.

The fund helped roll out a programme to test family members of anyone who has died with the same condition Miles had, which hadn't been available before. They were instrumental in finding the fault in a 14-year-old boy which saved his life.

The late Sir David Frost and his son Miles, who died at the age of 31

Heart scare as young footballer

The couple had heart scares themselves, with David developing an irregular heartbeat at 38, while still a professional player, and Frankie being diagnosed with a leaky heart valve in her 40s.

“I started getting heart flutters and palpitations but I was lucky because I talked to the medics at Arsenal and they made sure I got it sorted out,” he says.

“I had an operation where they try to freeze burn a part of your heart, which sounds really traumatic, but it's not as painful as it sounds. I was awake when it was happening.

“That reset the heart for a little while, and then it went back to the irregular rhythm and my surgeon said there are risks in trying again. But it’s completely controlled by medication so it doesn’t stop me doing anything.”

Frankie, who was born with her minor heart defect, now has regular check ups but has not needed surgery.

As retired athletes, both know the importance of exercise and healthy living for the heart - Frankie took up Wu Shu, a form of Kung Fu, in lockdown and David is a keen cyclist, riding for two or three hours at a time.

He has also completed numerous charity bike rides including a 100 mile London to Brighton race for the Foundation.

“He couldn’t walk for about three days afterwards,” laughs Frankie. “But he was styling out the Lycra.”

Looking forward to the awards tonight, Frankie says she wants to highlight all the amazing work being done by medical teams and researchers to advance treatment of heart and other conditions.

“Fundraising has been so hard due to COVID so it’s more important than ever to get the funding for the research,” she says.

“The charity funds such amazing work and has helped develop life-saving treatments such as stents, but they also do a lot of research into vascular issues which cause dementia and strokes.

Read More on The US Sun

frankie poultney cruise ship

Wendy Williams' ex wants her bank records after judge claims she's broke

frankie poultney cruise ship

Extreme effort to make Biden look young could backfire, stylist says

“The awards mean a lot to us because they celebrate everyday people that don't normally get recognised, from scientists and fundraisers to people with heart conditions, and it covers people from all walks of life.”

To watch the Heart Hero Awards, go to the British Heart Foundation website.

Keen cyclist David took part in the 100 mile London to Brighton event

  • Heart disease
  • Mental Health and illness
  • David Seaman
  • Philosophers
  • All Categories

Biogs

Frankie Poultney's Biography

Facebook

  • Please enter Friend's Name.
  • Please enter Your Name.
  • Please type the 6 characters that you see in the picture.
  • The characters you type must match the characters in the picture. Please try again.

No Image Available

Who is Frankie Poultney?

She and her former husband lived most of the year in Canada. However, in 2009, The Mail reported that she had set up home with former Dancing on Ice contestant David Seaman and that Frankie Poultney had ended her six-year marriage .

Frankie Poultney, who weighs a mere six-and-a-half stone told The Mirror:

"I know people will hate me for saying this, but I can eat whatever I like without putting on weight because I work off all the calories by training so hard. I'm a proper Yorkshire lass, so I love really hearty, traditional meals like roast beef and Yorkshire pud, sausage and mash, fish and chips and bread and butter pudding."

Frankie Poultney competed in regional ice skating competitions before turning professional at 18 years old. From 2002 to 2006 Frankie Poultney was the principal Adagio skater in Planet Ice aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Explorer of the Seas.Frankie Poultney on Dancing on Ice. In 2015 she married David Seaman .

Frankie Poultney on Dancing on Ice

In 2011, Frankie Poultney was paired with Comedy Dave Vitty in ITV1's Dancing on Ice. They finished ninth.

In Dancing on Ice 2010, Frankie Poultney skated with Danny Young . They did well and came fifth.

In Dancing on Ice in 2009, Frankie Poultney partnered Ellery Hanley . They were voted off in week 6.

In 2008, Frankie Poultney partnered Chris Fountain in Dancing on Ice.

Frankie Poultney and Chris Fountain skated well and often led the judges scores through the various stages of Dancing on Ice and reached the final.

However, on the final night Chris and Frankie were beaten by Suzanne Shaw and Matt Evers , and so ended Dancing on Ice as runners-up in 2008.

In Dancing on Ice in 2007, Frankie Poultney came fifth with Lee Sharpe .

Frankie Poultney was selected to be one of the professional ice skaters to appear in the final series of Dancing on Ice in 2014. She was paired with David Seaman .

  • Please specify Name.
  • Please specify Email Address.
  • Please specify Comments.
  • Please select binary files having '.jpg', '.jpeg', '.gif' or '.png' extension for Photo
  • Akinwolere, Andy
  • Alcott, Chemmy
  • Conley, Rosemary
  • Ellison, Jennifer
  • Feldman, Corey
  • Foucan, Sebastien
  • Morse, Laila
  • Porter, Jorgie
  • Range, Heidi
  • Rhodes, Mark
  • Slimani, Chico
  • Tilton, Charlene
  • Whyment, Andy
  • Wolfenden, Matthew
  • Castile, Brooke
  • Delcourt, Brianne
  • Evers, Matt
  • Filippov, Maria
  • Gonzalez, Matthew
  • Hanretty, Mark
  • Higgins, Jodeyne
  • Lipanov, Andrei
  • Ogden, Vicky
  • Poultney, Frankie
  • Rozycki, Lukasz
  • Schaumann, Alexandra
  • Ulanova, Nina
  • Cousins, Robin
  • Spence, Louie
  • Witt, Katarina
  • Bleakley, Christine
  • Schofield, Phillip
  • Barber, Karen
  • Dean, Christopher
  • Torvill, Jayne
  • Dancing on Ice Home Page
  • Natalie Cassidy
  • Nikita Kuzmin
  • Helen Skelton
  • Louis Walsh
  • Daniel Whiston
  • Photographers
  • Television Contestants
  • Impressionists
  • Politicians
  • Broadcasters
  • Design and Architecture
  • Motor Sports
  • Horse Racing
  • Martial Arts
  • Celebrities
  • Health Practioners
  • Miscellaneous
  • Chefs and food related
  • Great Amateurs
  • Dancing on Ice
  • The Apprentice
  • Celebrity Big Brother
  • The Traitors
  • Strictly Come Dancing
  • I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here
  • The Great British Bake Off
  • Bedford Town FC
  • Celebrity Masterchef
  • Let It Shine
  • Dance Dance Dance
  • Sugar Free Farm
  • Conservative Party Leadership Contest 2016
  • Too Much TV
  • Britain's Got Talent
  • Bear Grylls: Mission Survive
  • Can't Touch This
  • The Night Manager
  • Dancing with the Stars
  • Marco's Kitchen Burnout
  • Big Brother UK
  • How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria
  • Big Brother USA
  • Over The Rainbow
  • Any Dream Will Do
  • Celebrity Apprentice (USA)
  • Hells Kitchen (UK)

Twitter

Look back at David Seaman and Dancing on Ice star Frankie Poultney's wedding

The harry's heroes star married in 2015.

David Seaman Frankie Poultney

David Seaman shed a stone while training for the new ITV show Harry's Heroes , and there was one person who supported him throughout his weight loss journey – his wife Frankie Poultney. The former Dancing on Ice pro followed the diet alongside her husband, and they still ice skate together, 11 years after first meeting on the entertainment show.

The couple married in February 2015, in a ceremony shared exclusively with HELLO! and attended by many of their high profile friends, including Jayne Torvill and Ian Wright. David, capped 75 times by England, said of his beautiful bride, who he married at Dormy House in the Cotswolds: "She looked so amazing, I could hardly speak. I'd kind of had the picture in my mind of how she would look but it surpassed anything I could have imagined."

David Seaman wedding

David Seaman married Frankie Poultney in 2015

The couple broke with tradition on their wedding day by choosing to walk down the aisle together, with Frankie saying David helped to calm her nerves on the wedding day. "He stops me getting anxious and, besides, we live together, so we saw no point in keeping apart until the ceremony. It was lovely to wake up together on such a special day, and he’s been in and out all morning, checking we’re okay. We’ll still have the 'ta-dah' moment when he sees me in my dress."

STORY: Get all the details on David Seaman's weight loss journey

David agreed: "Frankie and I are together so much in our day-to-day lives, it seemed daft to keep apart on our wedding morning just because tradition says we should. We’re both very set on doing things our way."

The bride was a vision of Hollywood glamour in a shimmering, fishtailed gown by Italian designer Angelina Colarusso that featured a daring corseted back and detailing to complement her crystal bouquet. "Because I'm so small, I had to get my dress made," Frankie, who’s 5ft and a size four to six, told HELLO! . "I went through a load of bridal magazines and, when I flicked back, all the pages that I had dog-eared were designs by Angelina. I love her sense of drama and exquisite attention to the cut and detailing. I love my dress so much, I’m going to wear it when I go shopping in Sainsbury’s."

David Seaman wedding cover

The couple shared their wedding exclusively in HELLO! magazine

Among the guests were David's former teammates Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon, and broadcaster Bob Wilson was best man. Frankie's Dancing on Ice colleagues Matt Evers and Vicky Ogden also attended, as did previous contestants Suzanne Shaw and former Coronation Street star Chris Fountain. And Frankie arranged a special surprise for her new husband at their reception – a flash mob routine to Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk. "That was absolutely brilliant," David marvelled.

GALLERY: Couples who found love on Dancing on Ice, Strictly Come Dancing & more

Reflecting on their special day, Frankie concluded: "Getting married has brought another level to the happiness we already had. We're in a bubble of wedded bliss and it's wonderful."

See 9 of the most beautiful celebrity weddings

Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.

  • Celebrity Weddings
  • Dancing On Ice
  • David Seaman

More Weddings

Inside Holly Willoughby's spectacular bridal dress collection: Boho, ballgowns & more

Gallery Inside Holly Willoughby's spectacular bridal dress collection: Boho, ballgowns & more

Dancing on Ice 2024 stars' weddings & engagements: From Ryan Thomas' seaside proposal to Roxy Shahidi's non-legal marriage

Dancing on Ice 2024 stars' weddings & engagements: From Ryan Thomas' seaside proposal to Roxy Shahidi's non-legal marriage

Dancing on Ice's Alex Murphy stuns in poignant bridal gown at 'royal wedding' – exclusive

Dancing on Ice's Alex Murphy stuns in poignant bridal gown at 'royal wedding' – exclusive

Princess Diana's niece Amelia Spencer models spellbinding backless wedding dress in mountainside photo

Princess Diana's niece Amelia Spencer models spellbinding backless wedding dress in mountainside photo

Princess Beatrice models flirty shoulder-baring wedding guest dress in sun-drenched Rome photos

Princess Beatrice models flirty shoulder-baring wedding guest dress in sun-drenched Rome photos

Inside BBC Breakfast stars' weddings: Naga Munchetty's 'puffy' dress, Carol Kirkwood's 'intimate' nuptials & more

Gallery Inside BBC Breakfast stars' weddings: Naga Munchetty's 'puffy' dress, Carol Kirkwood's 'intimate' nuptials & more

Angelina Jolie's very public romantic history: from Jonny Lee Miller to Brad Pitt

Angelina Jolie's very public romantic history: from Jonny Lee Miller to Brad Pitt

Rihanna dazzles on stage as Mark Zuckerberg and more attend Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani's lavish Indian wedding celebrations

Gallery Rihanna dazzles on stage as Mark Zuckerberg and more attend Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani's lavish Indian wedding celebrations

Look back at cheat star katherine kelly’s secret las vegas wedding, all the details on glee star lea michele's intimate wedding to zandy reich, coronation street's faye brookes talks 'epic' wedding plans with gareth gates, what this strictly pro, geri halliwell and frankie bridge had in common on their wedding day.

David Seaman and Frankie Poultney’s relationship timeline: From meeting on Dancing On Ice to their wedding

DAVID Seaman was paired up with now-wife Frankie on the Dancing On Ice live tour.

  • 13:03, 18 MAR 2019
  • Updated 19:51, 18 MAR 2019

frankie poultney cruise ship

Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inbox

We have more newsletters

frankie poultney cruise ship

Dancing On Ice recently finished after returning to ITV, and James Jordan was crowned the eventual winner in a dramatic finale. 

Other than a four year break, the show has been on since 2006, with a hole host of popular celebs showing off their skating talents on the show. 

And love has even blossomed on the show, with Frankie Poultney and former England goalkeeper David Seaman finding romance together. 

Here’s everything you need to know about their relationship...

frankie poultney cruise ship

The couple first met through Dancing On Ice, way back in 2008. 

They reportedly fell in love while on the show’s live tour. 

frankie poultney cruise ship

Frankie and David got engaged in 2013. 

The former footballer proposed over Christmas. 

The couple married in 2015, tying the knot at Dormy House in the Cotswolds. 

frankie poultney cruise ship

The pair don’t have children, but David has four children from two previous marriages. 

  • Dancing On Ice
  • Most Recent

frankie poultney cruise ship

Frankie Poultney

IMDbPro Starmeter See rank

  • Contact info

Annual Getaway

  • 2010 • 9 eps

Declan Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin in Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002)

  • 2014 • 1 ep

Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Joel Dommett, Peter Crouch, and Oti Mabuse in The Masked Dancer UK (2021)

  • Self - Pillar
  • 2022 • 3 eps

Personal details

  • March 1 , 1973
  • Spouses David Seaman February 7, 2015 - present

Did you know

  • Trivia In a relationship with retired footballer David Seaman .
  • Quotes (On taking part in Dancing on Ice (2006) ) It was another lucky break for me! A lot of people come up to me and say, 'You've really inspired us to learn how to skate'. If you can inspire one parent to put their child into skating or any sporting activity, that's really rewarding!

Related news

Contribute to this page.

  • Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Production art

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you seen?

Poster

Recently viewed

  • Entertainment
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertise With Us
  • User Generated Content
  • Contact Her
  • Lovin Dublin

16th Feb 2015

First Look at David Seaman and Frankie Poultney’s Wedding…

Rebecca McKnight

frankie poultney cruise ship

Last week we found out that former footballer David Seaman and Dancing on Ice star Frankie Poultney had tied the knot  but now we’ve been given a glimpse of their special day.

The couple, who got married in Dormy House in the Cotswolds, shared their wedding snaps with HELLO! magazine.

Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Jayne Torvill and Suzanne Shaw were among the guests who attended on the day.

Speaking about his bride, David said: “She looked so amazing, I could hardly speak. I’d kind of had the picture in my mind of how she would look but it surpassed anything I could have imagined.”

Frankie added: “Getting married has brought another level to the happiness we already had. We’re in a bubble of wedded bliss and it’s wonderful.”

seaman

RELATED ARTICLES

Holly Willoughby under police watch following kidnapping threats

Holly Willoughby under police watch following kidnapping threats

By Kat O'Connor

Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery ties the knot

Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery ties the knot

Chris Evans marries Alba Baptista in intimate ceremony at home

Chris Evans marries Alba Baptista in intimate ceremony at home

Holly Willoughby under police watch following kidnapping threats

Holly Willoughby

Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery ties the knot

celebrity weddings

Chris Evans marries Alba Baptista in intimate ceremony at home

Alba Baptista

MORE FROM HER

Emily Atack slammed for fronting ‘tone-deaf’ campaign

emily atack

Emily Atack slammed for fronting ‘tone-deaf’ campaign

By Anna Martin

Kate Middleton’s uncle criticised for ‘throwing more spotlight’ on her amid health speculation

Kate Middleton’s uncle criticised for ‘throwing more spotlight’ on her amid health speculation

By Jody Coffey

Have Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet ended their romance?

Kylie Jenner

Have Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet ended their romance?

Inspiring women get their own Barbie for International Women’s Day

Inspiring women get their own Barbie for International Women’s Day

Eoghan McDermott issues update after being forced to sell home

eoghan mcdermott

Eoghan McDermott issues update after being forced to sell home

‘There are so many survivors of cancer’ – Rosie Connolly on the importance of using her following for good

breast cancer ireland

‘There are so many survivors of cancer’ – Rosie Connolly on the importance of using her following for good

What exactly is buccal fat removal and is it safe?

buccal fat removal

What exactly is buccal fat removal and is it safe?

‘Too many of us are not wearing SPF’ – Ireland’s skincare habits are laid bare in new study

‘Too many of us are not wearing SPF’ – Ireland’s skincare habits are laid bare in new study

‘Am I wrong for refusing to change my wedding date?’

Am I the Asshole

‘Am I wrong for refusing to change my wedding date?’

Social welfare recipients warned ahead of March changes

social welfare

Social welfare recipients warned ahead of March changes

Puppy Love: Most women would choose their dog over a man

Puppy Love: Most women would choose their dog over a man

What are angel numbers and why do people look out for them?

What are angel numbers and why do people look out for them?

Is Helen George leaving Call the Midwife? What we know

Call The Midwife

Is Helen George leaving Call the Midwife? What we know

What is ‘tech neck’ and why do so many of us suffer with it?

What is ‘tech neck’ and why do so many of us suffer with it?

By Sophie Collins

‘Ireland won’t forget just how remarkable Saoírse Ruane was’

Saoirse Ruane

‘Ireland won’t forget just how remarkable Saoírse Ruane was’

Do you remember these six iconic looks from the Oscars?

Do you remember these six iconic looks from the Oscars?

Is a good relationship with our period possible? A menstrual coach says it is

Cleanmarine

Is a good relationship with our period possible? A menstrual coach says it is

Should we be letting dogs sleep in bed with us? Experts explain

Should we be letting dogs sleep in bed with us? Experts explain

Check out the latest episode of our interview podcast, Unfiltered

Subscribe free:

Listen on Apple Podcasts

David Seaman to marry Dancing on Ice partner Frankie Poultney

David Seaman has announced that he is engaged to Dancing on Ice professional Frankie Poultney.

The pair met when they both took part in the Dancing on Ice tour in 2008.

fashion, dance, fashion model, dancer, dress, little black dress, muscle, latin dance, event, photography,

The former goalkeeper was a contestant in the series in 2006 when he was paired with Pam O'Connor.

Seaman and Poultney are due to take part in the All-Stars series of the show, which starts on ITV on January 5.

"We are engaged now and if it wasn't for the show, I may not have met Frankie. It is nice to be able to dance together."

Seaman left his wife Debbie Rogers to be with Poultney. They divorced in 2009.

The couple are taking part in the last series of the show along with other former stars including Todd Carty, Gareth Gates and Beth Tweddle.

Dancing On Ice All-Stars contestants - photo gallery :

Dancing on Ice All-Stars: Couple portraits

News Editor  

Catherine joined Digital Spy as News Editor in 2018, and oversees our team of freelance writers. Prior to that she worked at OK! Online , and has interviewed a slew of celebrities across her career in entertainment news, including Tom Hanks, Cheryl and Noel Fielding. 

Catherine also has specialist knowledge in all things drag, interviewing a huge portion of RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, and getting her own drag makeover for Channel 4’s show Drag SOS . 

LinkedIn  

preview for Digital Spy latest videos

.css-15yqwdi:before{top:0;width:100%;height:0.25rem;content:'';position:absolute;background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#51B3E0,#51B3E0 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 5rem,#E5E54F 5rem,#E5E54F 7.5rem,black 7.5rem,black);} Showbiz

bbc radio presenter zoe ball

Radio 2's Vernon Kay shares why show went off air

yinka bokinni

Radio 1 host responds to recent exits

arielle free, radio 1 presenter

Arielle Free quits BBC Radio 1 early morning show

mollie king and matt edmondson

BBC Radio 1 confirm new schedule shake-up

wendy williams talks to the camera in the trailer for the where is wendy williams documentary

Wendy Williams speaks out about dementia diagnosis

richard osman, this morning

Richard Osman announces new thriller book series

los angeles, california february 04 for editorial use only ellie goulding attends the 66th grammy awards at cryptocom arena on february 04, 2024 in los angeles, california photo by lionel hahngetty images

Ellie Goulding announces split from husband

the graham norton show january 2024

Graham Norton leaving Virgin Radio show

si king, dave myers, the hairy bikers go west

Paying tribute to the stars that died in 2024

steve wright

Steve Wright's Love Songs gets new host

millie bobby brown, jake bongiovi

Millie Bobby Brown's fiancé teases "big year"

MORE SECTIONS

  • Dear Deidre
  • Visual Stories

MORE FROM THE SUN

  • Newsletters
  • Deliver my newspaper
  • Sun Vouchers
  • The Sun Digital Newspaper

frankie poultney cruise ship

Inside David Seaman & Frankie Poultney’s relationship as they open up about blended family & keeping spark alive

  • Alison Maloney
  • Published : 21:00, 17 Sep 2022
  • Updated : 19:08, 17 Jan 2024

FRANKIE Poultney couldn't wait to get her skates back on when Dancing on Ice returned to ITV after a four year hiatus in 2018.

But the professional skater was left angry and disappointed when TV bosses made the skaters audition for the role, before ditching her by email.

Frankie Poultney met husband David Seaman through Dancing On Ice

Three years on, in an exclusive chat with Frankie, 48, and husband David Seaman to mark their new roles as ambassadors for the British Heart Foundation, the former DOI star says losing her TV job has made her life happier.

“The show was really great to me for the first 10 years but when it came back, there was a lack of communication,” she tells The Sun .

“But entertainment is really difficult - one day you're hot, the next you're not.

“I was coming to the end of my career anyway and it was difficult to deal with not being a professional skater anymore, because that defined me since I was 10 years old.

“But I have been on tour my entire life, living out of two suitcases and working every Christmas and birthday, so to be at home felt like a huge luxury for me.

“I loved that life at the time. But now being able to come home at night is a huge blessing and I probably appreciate it more than most, because I’ve never had that.

“I feel so lucky, because I have a lovely home situation and I've got a great husband.”

At the time of the axe Frankie - who met former goalie David , 58, through the show - slammed bosses for dumping the pros with the same email calling it “disrespectful and disparaging”.

Most read in Fabulous

I cleared the shelves in Tesco & made £180 in just one hour - anyone can do it

I cleared the shelves in Tesco & made £180 in just one hour - anyone can do it

My man is so much hotter than me, trolls say he’s bound to leave me

My man is so much hotter than me, trolls say he’s bound to leave me

‘People miss out over your greed’ women fume as man clears shelves for profit

‘People miss out over your greed’ women fume as man clears shelves for profit

Uranus gets you talking – you’ll be amazed by what comes out of your mouth

Uranus gets you talking – you’ll be amazed by what comes out of your mouth

She also said the treatment had been “heartbreaking” because she “lived and breathed the show.”

But speaking at their Berkshire home Frankie - who laughingly describes herself as ‘small and gobby’ - says she’s put the row behind her, even though she no longer watches the show.

“I'm not really the type of person who just sits down quietly and goes 'oh ok’,” she says.

“Anybody who knows me would say I'm a force of nature, but I'm always fair. There were a lot of poorly handled situations, but people move on.

“The transition was hard, to not be able to say 'I'm a professional skater'. But I'm 48 for God's sake, I can't say that for the rest of my life.

“Nobody wants to see a middle-aged woman in Lycra knickers on their telly on a Sunday night.”

Instant attraction

The couple - who are presenting a gong at the Heart Hero Awards tonight - met in 2007, when Frankie was partnered with David’s pal Lee Sharpe on her debut year on Dancing On Ice , a year after his own stint on the show.

But romance blossomed a year later on the show's live tour.

“The attraction was there straight away, as obviously it needs to be - and that attraction is still there right now,” David explains sweetly.

Both born in Yorkshire the couple, who wed in 2015, radiate warmth and affection for each other, with laughter and easy banter punctuating their conversation.

“Everybody loves David when they first meet him,” says Frankie. “He's got such an infectious laugh. He's so funny all the time. He's always happy.

“We're both from South Yorkshire - he’s from Rotherham and I’m from Sheffield - so we connected on that level and we found we had a lot in common, because we’re both athletes, we've both toured our whole lives and we have the same sense of humour.

“We're so lucky we found each other.”

“We're so lucky we found each other” Frankie Poultney

After 13 years, the pair have managed to keep the flame alive and say spending more time together during lockdown was a blessing.

“We make each other laugh every day and we have a great time together,” says David.

“In lockdown, we had a fantastic time starting some home projects, lots of DIY, and I even learned to bake sourdough.”

Frankie, David’s third wife, is proud of the relationship she has with his grown up children Dan, 35, Thomas, 33, Georgina, 20 and Robbie, 19.

“I'm really blessed that I have a really good relationship with my stepkids because I know sometimes blended families can be a difficult dynamic,” she says.

“The older ones were adults when I first met them and the younger two have grown from being eight and nine years old to adults during that time. They’ve all got mums so they've never needed me to be a second parent in their lives by any means.

“But I sleep well at night, knowing they would say that I've always treated them with respect and welcomed them with open arms into the house.”

Tragedy behind support for heart charity

Now both retired from their respective sports, the couple spend much of their time doing charity work, including a long term involvement with the British Heart Foundation and the charity’s Heart Hero Awards.

The annual ceremony, held virtually this year, is hosted by the BHF to recognise and honour incredible people.

From researchers and doctors, to brave children who have fought dangerous heart conditions, this year’s Heart Hero Awards is celebrating those who have supported the BHF through the pandemic, which the charity says has been the toughest time in their 60 year history.

Their support for the charity was borne out of personal experience and tragedy, in particular the death of Sir David Frost’s son Miles, at the age of 31.

Arsenal legend David, a close friend of the late broadcaster and his family, was devastated when Miles collapsed and died from an undiagnosed heart condition while running near his Oxfordshire home in 2015.

The tragedy came two years after the legendary broadcaster died of a heart attack at 74 while onboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

“Miles and his brothers George and Will were three young lads who were enjoying life and Miles was superfit, and training for a marathon at the time,” says David.

“He died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and had it been diagnosed he would still be here.

“We want to get more awareness out there and get more people to check themselves out because sometimes you don't feel anything, and then all of a sudden that happens.

“That and the collapse of Christian Erikson from a cardiac arrest in the Euros, this summer, brought home that it can happen to anyone, no matter how young and fit you are.”

David met the chat show host, an avid Arsenal fan, after saving three penalties in a shootout against Sampdoria and being invited onto his TV show the following day.

He is godson to Sir David’s youngest son George and close to his widow, Lady Carina.

“They're a brilliant family and they’ve been through a lot," he says.

"I don't know how they coped with two massive bereavements in the family. I suppose you learn to live with it, but they will never forget Miles.”

To help with their grief, the family set up the Miles Frost Fund, under the umbrella of the BHF, and raised millions for research and screening.

The fund helped roll out a programme to test family members of anyone who has died with the same condition Miles had, which hadn't been available before. They were instrumental in finding the fault in a 14-year-old boy which saved his life.

The late Sir David Frost and his son Miles, who died at the age of 31

Heart scare as young footballer

The couple had heart scares themselves, with David developing an irregular heartbeat at 38, while still a professional player, and Frankie being diagnosed with a leaky heart valve in her 40s.

“I started getting heart flutters and palpitations but I was lucky because I talked to the medics at Arsenal and they made sure I got it sorted out,” he says.

“I had an operation where they try to freeze burn a part of your heart, which sounds really traumatic, but it's not as painful as it sounds. I was awake when it was happening.

“That reset the heart for a little while, and then it went back to the irregular rhythm and my surgeon said there are risks in trying again. But it’s completely controlled by medication so it doesn’t stop me doing anything.”

Frankie, who was born with her minor heart defect, now has regular check ups but has not needed surgery.

As retired athletes, both know the importance of exercise and healthy living for the heart - Frankie took up Wu Shu, a form of Kung Fu, in lockdown and David is a keen cyclist, riding for two or three hours at a time.

He has also completed numerous charity bike rides including a 100 mile London to Brighton race for the Foundation.

“He couldn’t walk for about three days afterwards,” laughs Frankie. “But he was styling out the Lycra.”

Looking forward to the awards tonight, Frankie says she wants to highlight all the amazing work being done by medical teams and researchers to advance treatment of heart and other conditions.

“Fundraising has been so hard due to COVID so it’s more important than ever to get the funding for the research,” she says.

“The charity funds such amazing work and has helped develop life-saving treatments such as stents, but they also do a lot of research into vascular issues which cause dementia and strokes.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

frankie poultney cruise ship

Carol Vorderman takes swipe at GMB host Charlotte Hawkins in fiery interview

frankie poultney cruise ship

“The awards mean a lot to us because they celebrate everyday people that don't normally get recognised, from scientists and fundraisers to people with heart conditions, and it covers people from all walks of life.”

To watch the Heart Hero Awards, go to the British Heart Foundation website.

Keen cyclist David took part in the 100 mile London to Brighton event

  • Heart disease
  • Mental Health and illness

Daily Mail

Frankie Poultney credits husband David Seaman for his support

Frankie Poultney has revealed she recently suffered a cancer scare after finding a lump on her breast.

The former Dancing On Ice professional, 50, assured that the lump was found to be a non-cancerous cyst - but shared details of the worrying ordeal.

Lauding her husband David Seaman for his unwavering support, the ice skater gushed that the former Arsenal goalkeeper is always the one she turns to for help.

'My husband is a huge source of comfort and rock-solid support in times of crisis,' shared Frankie while chatting with The Sun  this week.

Sweetly adding that he 'listens and provides excellent hugs', she showed that the couple, who met whilst David was on the ITV skating show in 2007, are stronger than ever.

Explaining that she found a lump in her right breast earlier this year, Frankie shared that she was quick to take action - getting it checked straight away.

It isn't the first time she's had a scare in the area either, after the skater underwent surgery eight years ago to remove a lump from her breast.

While this initial lump was removed and found to be a non-cancerous fibroadenoma, also known as a breast mouse, the second finding still left her nervous. 

'It was scary. The second time around is less of a shock, I suppose, but more of a worry, because my first thought was, 'Oh no — maybe the first one was just a warning,' Frankie told The Sun .

Adding: 'I was really nervous this time around that I would have to have surgery again, so it's been a huge relief to find out this second lump is just a cyst which doesn't require treatment.'

Throughout the worrying time, the star credits her husband David for supporting her and being the perfect listener.

She shared: 'He is a huge source of comfort and rock-solid support in times of crisis. He doesn't try to sugar-coat anything or pretend to understand how I'm feeling. He just listens and provides excellent hugs'.

 A lump or area that feels thicker than the rest of the breast is one of the most common symptoms of breast cancer.

The pair met in 2007, when Frankie was partnered with David's pal Lee Sharpe during her debut year on Dancing on Ice, a year after his own stint on the show.

Their relationship reportedly developed during the show's tour in 2008, after Frankie split from her Canadian engineer husband, Andrew, and David split from his second wife, Debbie.

They were eventually partnered for an all-star edition of the show in 2014, finishing in an impressive third place.

In 2013 the couple revealed they were engaged after former Arsenal goalkeeper David proposed over Christmas.

They went on to marry at lavish Dormy House in the Cotswolds, surrounded by friends, family and an array of former colleagues from David's illustrious footballing career.

MailOnline logo

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

The Masked Dancer: Who is Pillar and Post? All the clues and theories

Default author image

Share this with

EMBARGOED TO 2100 FRIDAY JULY 22 MANDATORY CREDIT: Vincent Dolmant/ITV Undated handout photo issued by ITV of The Masked Dancer contestants Pillar and Post. Issue date: Friday July 22, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ MaskedDancer. Photo credit should read: Vincent Dolman/ITV/pictures provided by PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

The Masked Dancer is back for its second series on ITV, and Pillar and Post is one of the 12 undercover acts strutting their stuff, as judges Jonathan Ross , Davina McCall , Oti Mabuse and Peter Crouch do their best to guess their identities.

The Pillar and Post are the first ever double act to take the Masked Dancer stage and the guesses have been flooding in to find out which couple – personal or professional – could be under the masks.

The series, a spin-off of the ever popular Masked Singer, has bagged itself a primetime Saturday night slot this year after debuting on screens in the summer of 2021 – and you can expect a clash of the titans as it goes head to head with Strictly Come Dancing .

But just who is behind Pillar and Post’s masks? Here are the clues we’ve been given to their identity so far, and theories about who it might be…

What clues have been given about Pillar and Post on The Masked Dancer?

  • Could be a real-life or professional couple
  • They like to hit the cobbles early – possible Coronation Street connection
  • Post made a career of following instructions
  • It was separate trips round the world that delivered them into the same vicinity – might be a cruise ship
  • Large cheque at doorstep – could be something to do with breakfast TV competitions
  • Hearts in background – Heart radio connection?
  • JL5 on the post – might be a JLS star?
  • ‘We’ve “toe-tally” seen stars together’
  • A postcard saying ‘See you next summer, from Des’ – could they host a travel programme?
  • They mention ‘Second Wind’ – which is a sporting term
  • Bottles caps on a bench – this could be a reference to football or rugby
  • Tea bag is placed next to a megaphone – Tea could be a link to Yorkshire and megaphone another nod to sports
  • Two of these are true: Started out on different arms; our names can be found on an assassin’s notepad and between us we’ve got a large gob and a sting in our tale

Who is Pillar and Post on The Masked Dancer?

Jamie theakston and amanda holden.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 28: Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston posing outside Heart Radio Studios as they celebrate Heart's Make Me a Millionaire Competition winner on May 28, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)

The hearts in the background had the panel suspicious it could be Heart radio presenters Jamie and Amanda.

The height difference between the pair would also make sense too as Post towered over Pillar.

The pair have also ‘seen stars’ together as they interview celebrities on their radio show all the time.

Rochelle and Marvin Humes

Marvin and Rochelle Humes arriving for the TRIC Awards 2022 at Grosvenor House, London. Picture date: Wednesday July 6, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ TRIC. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire

The large cheque seemed to suggest a connection to breakfast TV – which would make sense for Rochelle Humes as a host of This Morning.

One of the letters in the frame also had the postcode JL5 – which could suggest Marvin Humes was under the other costume.

David Seaman and Frankie Poultney

David Seaman and Frankie Seaman attending the National Cat Awards at the Savoy Hotel, London. Picture date: Thursday August 4, 2022. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire

From the megaphone to the caps, there have been numerous references to sport, and David was a former goalkeeper for England and Arsenal.

Meanwhile, the tea bag suggests a Yorkshire connection, where David was born and bred.

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

The Masked Dancer continues on Saturdays at 6.30pm on ITV

MORE : The Masked Dancer star Oti Mabuse accidentally lets slip huge clue behind secret identity of Pearly King

MORE : Bowling For Soup’s Jaret Reddick would love Masked Singer role despite rejecting countless reality TV offers

TV

Get us in your feed

MailOnline US - news, sport, celebrity, science and health stories

  • U.K. Showbiz
  • Meghan Markle
  • Jeremy Renner
  • Taylor Swift
  • Kim Kardashian

frankie poultney cruise ship

David Seaman and Frankie Poultney share first picture from surprise wedding and reveal bride's Dancing On Ice co-stars organised a flash mob on their big day

By Mail Online Reporter

Published: 21:21 EST, 15 February 2015 | Updated: 09:39 EST, 16 February 2015

View comments

They fell in love on the Dancing on Ice live tour in 2008 so it's not surprising there was an element of dance involved in David Seaman and Frankie Poultney's wedding. 

The former Arsenal and England footballer and his bride saw a first dance with a difference as some of the Dancing On Ice stars took to the floor in a flash mob.

The couple, who met on the ITV show, tied the knot at Dormy House in the Cotswolds recently and the former footballer, 51, told HELLO! Magazine the unusual first dance was 'absolutely brilliant' and his bride 'looked so amazing I could hardly speak'.

Scroll down for video 

Joyous: David Seaman and Frankie Poultney [centre with L-R Sol Campbell, Ian Wright, Jayne Torvill and Suzanne Shaw] have shared the first picture from their wedding and revealed her Dancing On Ice co-stars organised a flash mob

Joyous: David Seaman and Frankie Poultney [centre with L-R Sol Campbell, Ian Wright, Jayne Torvill and Suzanne Shaw] have shared the first picture from their wedding and revealed her Dancing On Ice co-stars organised a flash mob

He said: 'I'd kind of had the picture in my mind of how she would look but it surpassed anything I could have imagined.' 

Frankie, 41, said: 'Getting married has brought another level to the happiness we already had. We're in a bubble of wedded bliss and it's wonderful.'

Among the guests were fellow Arsenal stalwarts Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon and another former Arsenal goalkeeper - Bob Wilson - was best man.

Here comes the bride! David Seaman and Frankie Poultney have tied the knot in a secret ceremony over the weekend

Here comes the bride! David Seaman and Frankie Poultney tied the knot in a secret ceremony earlier this month 

Wright said the couple were 'unbelievably good together'.

He said: 'Frankie is just a little atom bomb of energy and really good fun whilst David is very cool and very calm and very chilled.'

Also at the wedding were Frankie's Dancing On Ice colleagues Jayne Torvill, Matt Evers and Vicky Ogden, and Suzanne Shaw who also appeared on the show.

Torvill said: 'Whenever I've seen David since he's been with Frankie he's been smiling. I'm so glad that they found each other.'  

Romance on ice: The pair fell in love when they were partnered up together on Dancing On Ice live tour in 2008 and after David, 51, finished fourth in the 2006 series

Romance on ice: The pair fell in love when they were partnered up together on Dancing On Ice live tour in 2008 and after David, 51, finished fourth in the 2006 series

The pair fell in love when they were partnered up together on Dancing On Ice live tour in 2008 and after David, 51, finished fourth in the 2006 series.

The Sunday Mirror broke the news of their wedding earlier this month, revealing that the secret ceremony was believed to have been attended by former team mates and celebrities.   

A source told the paper: 'They have been planning their big day for a long time, and they couldn't wait to be husband and wife. It was everything they wanted it to be and more.'

Happy couple: Frankie and David got engaged in 2013 when the former England goalkepper proposed over Christmas

Happy couple: Frankie and David got engaged in 2013 when the former England goalkepper proposed over Christmas

Read the full interview with David and Frankie in this week's edition of HELLO! Magazine, out now

Read the full interview with David and Frankie in this week's edition of HELLO! Magazine, out now

The lovebirds got together after Frankie split from her Canadian engineer husband, Andrew and David split from second wife, Debbie.

Frankie and David revealed they had got engaged in 2013 when the former England goalkeeper proposed over Christmas.

Despite the couple wanting a low-key do, it appears that a fellow sports pal broke the news when he posted a captioned a selfie on his Instagram account. 

He wrote: 'Early start, off to Frankie and David Seaman's wedding. Very excited!'

David was remaining quiet about the big day on his Twitter account and his last post before the wedding, was a charitable post attached to a picture of himself and Frankie.

He wrote: 'Raising awareness if Bowel Cancer do you #knowthescore.' [sic].

Meanwhile, David has two children from his second marriage to Debbie. He was married to first wife Sandra until 1994.

The football legend retired from football on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury.

Read the full interview with David and Frankie in this week's edition of HELLO! Magazine, out now.

Football star: David during the England V Spain game during the 1996 European championships

Football star: David during the England V Spain game during the 1996 European championships

Share or comment on this article: David Seaman and Frankie Poultney share first picture from surprise wedding

Most watched news videos.

  • Sex offender gulps during arrest for masterminding paedophiles forum
  • UK-owned ship sinks in Red Sea after attack from Houthi militants
  • Pro-Palestine students surround others talking about antisemitism
  • Aerial view of fire that ripped through Forest Gate police station
  • Horner: 'We need to move forward, time now to focus on Formula One'
  • 'Real' car thief shows how easy it is to break into a luxury car
  • Shocking moment mother pummels student after breaking up fight
  • Sex Pistol John Lydon blames immigration for 'division' in the UK
  • Inside the bizarre fake funeral staged by a convicted paedophile
  • Footage shows baby born at NHS hospital before tragically died
  • Horrific video of teens bashing elderly man outside a shopping centre
  • Stunned diners wonder whether they should help 'drunk' Sheridan Smith

frankie poultney cruise ship

Comments 97

Share what you think

  • Worst rated

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Femail Today

frankie poultney cruise ship

  • Follow DailyMail
  • Subscribe Daily Mail
  • Follow @dailymail
  • Follow MailOnline
  • Follow Daily Mail

frankie poultney cruise ship

  • Today's headlines

frankie poultney cruise ship

  • MORE HEADLINES
  • Biden calls murdered jogger 'LINCOLN Riley': President, 81, holds up pin given by Marjorie Taylor Greene and says Georgia student was 'killed by an illegal' but gets her name wrong
  • Fury as Texas man who shot wife Patricia Birmingham dead on camera after discovering her affair is sentenced to just 10 years in prison for her murder - and will be eligible for parole in 5
  • MH370 - the 'shameful truth': Malaysia 'KNOWS what happened to doomed plane but refuses to acknowledge secret about its pilot'... who was obsessed with model twins
  • Indiana mom Stefanie Smith, 41, who suddenly died on American flight home from Dominican Republic sipped mojitos and ate a steak dinner at luxury resort the night before mystery death
  • United Boeing 737 Max veers OFF the runway into the grass 'after gear collapse' at Houston airport: FAA launches new probe after litany of safety issues
  • Ohio Chic-fil-A restaurant owner is arrested after 'driving 400 miles to have sex with a 15-year-old' and leaving his underwear in a garbage can when he was caught in the home by the teen's parents
  • Gold Star dad thrown out of Biden's State of the Union for shouting 'Remember Abbey Gate' over the 13 U.S. service members killed during disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal
  • What WAS in Sleepy Joe's peppy punch? KENNEDY's hysterical review of President Brittle Bone's suspiciously vigorous SOTU... the shocking gaffe that made Kamala's blood vessels pop... and a hot mic debacle that proves Biden REALLY isn't all there
  • Multiple government websites including Secret Service and Homeland Security go down for 20 minutes during Biden' State of the Union before being brought back online
  • Terrifying moment Fort Worth gorilla Elmo chases two zoo keepers around enclosure
  • MH370 flight documents 'show extra fuel and oxygen were added at the last minute - proving pilot intended to change route and crash the jet'
  • William 'won't worry about who does what in the Royal Family' as Kate recovers, says expert - with plans in place for Queen to represent King at Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Ascot and Trooping the Colour
  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are spotted upbeat and looking happy in Texas restaurant linked to their first date
  • Ex-con who is friends with woke DA Alvin Bragg and appeared on Joe Rogan last month is arrested for murder after severed head was found in Bronx apartment: Pictured arriving to apartment with blue bin and in multiple disguises
  • 'Haiti will go hungry soon' as looting sparks food shortage crisis and society 'plunges into chaos' - with experts warning 'the country is falling apart' as 'Barbecue' gang leader's thugs take control
  • Trump posts $91.6 MILLION bond in E. Jean Carroll rape defamation through an insurance company with just two days until the deadline and with three weeks until he has to put up $454 million to cover fraud fine
  • General Hospital star Haley Pullos claims the VICTIM is to blame for horror car crash 'despite her driving the wrong way on a freeway while drunk' as she tries for DUI plea deal
  • Biden caught on State of the Union hot mic warning saying he told Netanyahu we need a 'come to Jesus' meeting over Gaza
  • 'It's not catty, it's cruel': Meghan Markle says she was cyber-bullied while pregnant with Archie and Lilibet as she takes center stage at star-studded International Women's Day panel - while Prince Harry watches on from the front row
  • Biden scolds the Supreme Court to their faces for overturning Roe v. Wade: President, 81, tells justices 'with all due respect women are not without power' in pointed message at his State of the Union
  • Trump's Looney Tunes: Donald posts bizarre video mocking Biden for last year's State of the Union after his 2024 rival's pivotal appearance before millions of Americans
  • Porn star Emily Willis is in a 'vegetative coma', family says - as they deny reports that she 'overdosed': 'Emily was receiving the treatment she needed to overcome her struggles'
  • Joe Biden, 81, 'yelled' through his State of the Union but was 'gutsy' and shut down age concerns with a 'burst of vitality,' top speechwriters say
  • Are these the latest hotspots to find work? The three cities where job opportunities are thriving as hubs like San Francisco and New York slow
  • GOP Senator Katie Britt gets mixed reaction on social media for subdued response to fiery Biden State of the Union address
  • REBECCA ENGLISH: The social media cesspit of speculation on Kate's health is sickening. So what is the Palace to do?
  • Heartbroken estate agent, 39, who 'didn't know how to go on' after death of his beloved wife took his own life with her breast cancer medication four months later, inquest told
  • Biden admits he's old, but shows he's ready to brawl Trump: President slams Donald 13 times WITHOUT using his name in defiant State of the Union slapping down critics who says he's not fit to serve - so did he prove them wrong?
  • Moment stage 4 cancer sufferer is evicted from her own home by High Court enforcement officers watched on by police after long-running council tax bill battle
  • MOST READ IN DETAIL

frankie poultney cruise ship

  • Back to top

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

Cookie regulation logo

Arsenal legend David Seaman: ‘The kittens I foster are tiny and safe in my goalkeeper hands’

The former england and arsenal star and and his ice-skater wife frankie poultney have a litter of feral cats mewing in their special kitten room.

frankie poultney cruise ship

David Seaman spent years saving goals but now he spends his time saving kittens. The former England goalkeeper fosters pregnant cats and their young with his wife, the ice skater Frankie Poultney, socialising them and caring for them until they find a permanent home.

The pair, who met in 2008 when Frankie became David’s coach for Dancing on Ice , recently fostered two kittens which they named Marmite and Toast. “The kittens look extra tiny in my hands,” says the ex-footballer, nicknamed Safe Hands by Arsenal fans. “They’re safe with me.”

At the moment, the couple are looking after a litter of feral cats, brought into the Cats Protection centre by a member of the public. They had not been handled by a human before, so the couple are helping them get used to being touched, and to people, new noises and smells. “They’re doing amazingly well. One in particular has become very friendly.”

frankie poultney cruise ship

Not all of the kittens David and Frankie look after for the first eight weeks of their life are feral. Some have been abandoned by online cat sales scammers or brought in by people who bought a kitten that was unwell or simply too young, via a misleading internet advert .

Read More - Featured Image

Cats are wishing their owners would go back to the office – all this homeworking disrupts their alone time

Around 340,000 cats were found online by their buyers during the 2020/21 financial year, according to a report from Cats Protection last week. Accounting for 68 per cent of all cats purchased, they were listed on sites including Gumtree, Preloved, Facebook and Pets4Homes.

David and Frankie Seaman Foster Kittens Provided by alice.hammond@cats.org.uk

The report found that many are sold far too young, and split from their mother at under eight weeks old, leaving buyers with pets that are unwell – sometimes fatally – and can generate huge vet bills.

Many buyers were also found to have been tricked into paying deposits for kittens that do not exist.

Read More - Featured Image

Unscrupulous sellers profiting off sick cats amid high demand for ‘lockdown kittens’

Over the same timeframe, Action Fraud , the UK’s national centre for cyber crime, has reported an increase in financial crimes involving kittens or cats.

In the past 12 months, 1,146 instances of fraud were reported to the organisation, with buyers losing an average of £216 each – a huge increase on the year before, when only 190 instances were reported with an average loss of £169.

“It makes for grim reading,” says David. “Rehoming kittens is great but there’s a right age to do that, and some people are just doing it to make money out of it. They’ve got no thoughts for the kittens whatsoever, and that’s the sad part about it.”

For Frankie, it’s heart-wrenching to see kittens so young without their mother: “If those kittens have been removed from them before eight weeks old, that’s never going to end well.”

In an attempt to give those unlucky kittens the best chance of thriving, David and Frankie look after them in a special room in their house which was built when their elderly pet cat was unwell and needed caring for in her final month.

David and Frankie Seaman Foster Kittens Provided by alice.hammond@cats.org.uk

Frankie had already fostered cats throughout her life, and had been helping with cleaning and socialising at her local Cats Protection centre. After her pet died, she decided the cat room in their house should be used to help kittens in need.

The couple also have two pet cats, Smoky and Willow, which are still given plenty of attention and kept separate from the kittens so that they don’t feel sidelined.

Frankie has long been a “cat person”, but David, who grew up in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, had a family Alsatian that helped guard his parents’ greengrocers shop.

“After we got together, we were driving around our area and came across the Cats Protection centre,” says David.

“Frankie said, ‘Let’s just go and have a little look and see what they’ve got,’ and I thought, ‘Oh no.’ But there was one of the cats that really took a liking to me and was rubbing himself up on my legs. And that was Smoky.”

David and Frankie Seaman Foster Kittens Provided by alice.hammond@cats.org.uk

How do the couple feel when they say goodbye to the temporary kittens they spend weeks feeding, cleaning, stroking and keeping happy?

“Frankie gets upset,” says David, “because part of the role is to bond with these animals. But I say, ‘Babe, it’s another lot of kittens that are finding homes, let’s think about the next lot now.’”

She may have been tempted, but Frankie has never kept one of the foster kittens. “She calls that a ‘foster fail’,” says David. “I’m a mess when they go,” admits Frankie, “but I know it’s for the best.”

frankie poultney cruise ship

It’s coming to the end of their call with i and now the couple are being summoned by the sound of mewing. They need to go and pay some more attention to the smallest, most feral kitten of the litter. The Seamans think they might have her until Christmas, but it depends on how she does.

“We’ve just introduced her to the hoover,” says Frankie. “It’s very brave on the kittens’ part to put up with me poking and prodding them and desensitising them to all these things that they’re going to have to deal with in a new environment, when they go off to their forever home.”

Most Read By Subscribers

frankie poultney cruise ship

What happened in the Russia-Ukraine war this week? Catch up with the must-read news and analysis

Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine play special role in presidential elections; Ukrainian drones sink another Russian warship

Every week we wrap up essential coverage of the war in Ukraine , from news and features to analysis, opinion and more.

Threats and violence in Russian-occupied Ukraine

Sobornyi Avenue, the principal avenue in the centre of Zaporizhzhia.

Early voting in Russia’s presidential election has already begun in occupied areas of Ukraine, Shaun Walker reported from Zaporizhzhia, with officials carrying ballot boxes going house to house in some areas, accompanied by soldiers.

With critics and opponents silenced, exiled or murdered, Vladimir Putin is expected to be anointed for another six years when the polls close at the end of next week. The four partially-occupied Ukrainian regions, claimed by Putin as Russian territory in 2022, will have a special part to play in the set-piece vote.

The picture that Russian television will paint is almost as predictable as the final result: carefully curated images of grateful Ukrainians, delighted to be brought under Russian rule.

It will be a message to local people that there is no alternative to Russian control, and tell a story for people inside Russia of a supposedly happy population welcoming their new rulers. The narrative will also be specially curated for an audience of one – Putin – said a senior Ukrainian security official: “Most of all, the results will be about the elites demonstrating to the tsar that the people in his new territories really do love him.”

Zaluzhnyi heads to London

Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Ukraine’s former commander in chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, is to become its next ambassador to the UK , a month after he was fired by Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Dan Sabbagh reports. The popular former general is seen as the only realistic challenger to the president if there were to be an election.

The decision makes good on Zelenskiy’s promise to keep Zaluzhnyi “as part of the team” and also removes him from Ukraine. Zaluzhnyi was dismissed after the failure of the summer counter-offensive against Russian invasion forces, and after a to-and-fro in which the general initially refused to resign at the president’s request before accepting that his position was no longer tenable.

Although Ukraine considers the UK one of its closest allies, the ambassadorship has been vacant for many months. Zelenskiy dismissed the former envoy, Vadym Prystaiko, in July 2023 after he publicly criticised the president.

Restarting a nuclear power plant in a war zone

A Russian serviceman guards an area of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in May 2022.

Concerns are growing that Vladimir Putin may seek to restart the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station it captured from Ukraine, Dan Sabbagh reported. The UN’s nuclear watchdog this week reminded Moscow that the plant lay in an active combat zone and that it had been in shutdown “for a prolonged period of time”. Greenpeace added to those calls, with its nuclear specialist Shaun Burnie saying: “No nuclear regulations exist anywhere in the world that permit a nuclear plant to operate on the frontline in an active war zone.”

Burnie urged the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to rule out such a restart, saying: “The IAEA must not play the role of pretend regulator in overseeing a Russian nuclear timebomb, but instead must make clear that safe operation is impossible.”

Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, discussed with Putin the possibility of restarting the plant, and said that to do so would “require a number of safety assessments to be performed” by the Russian occupiers.

The Indian and Nepali men on the frontlines in Ukraine

Hemil Mangukiya, middle, poses for a photograph with two other men in military uniform.

When Hemil Mangukiya left his small village in the Indian state of Gujarat last December, he told his family he was off to Russia to make a better living than was possible at home in India, Hannah Ellis-Petersen , Aakash Hassan and Gaurav Pokharel reported.

Lured by a recruitment video he had seen on YouTube, the 23-year-old had thought he was going for a secure security job far from the war in Ukraine. But in strained phone calls home from Russia, he told his family he was instead sent to a month-long military training camp and then taken to the frontlines, where he was made to dig trenches, carry ammunition and operate rifles and machine guns. Then, in late February, his calls abruptly stopped.

The call that came days later shattered his father’s heart: Mangukiya had died in a missile strike somewhere in Ukraine. “Our entire family is devastated by this. We are still trying to get back his dead body,” said Ashwin Mangukiya, 52.

Drones sink another Russian warship

Ukraine releases footage appearing to show sinking of Russian warship near occupied Crimea – video

Ukrainian sea drones sank the Russian warship Sergei Kotov near the Kerch strait in occupied Crimea in a further blow to Moscow’s naval power and its control over the Black Sea, Luke Harding reported. The sinking was a much-needed boost to Ukraine’s morale after recent losses.

On land, Russian forces have been advancing across the eastern frontline and last month captured the salient city of Avdiivka after a five-month assault. At sea, Ukraine has had greater success, despite having no navy of its own. It has used sophisticated home-produced drones to pick off one Russian warship after another. On 14 February Ukraine sank a heavy assault ship, the Caesar Kuznikov, near the Crimean resort town of Alushka using the same class of Magura V5 naval drones.

Ukraine’s long-term strategic objective is to degrade Russia’s military and naval assets on Crimea, and to blow up the Kerch Bridge connecting the occupied peninsula with the Russian mainland. Kyiv has repeatedly asked Berlin to give it Germany’s long-range Taurus missile system. Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has so far ruled this out. Earlier this week, Russia released an intercepted phone call during which high-ranking German military officers discussed how Taurus could be used to destroy the crossing.

Germany’s loose talk

A Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile in the showroom of defense contractor MBDA.

German politicians and officials were criticised this week after their conversations on insecure phone lines published by Russian media made it more or less undeniable that British forces are already in Ukraine , Dan Sabbagh and Kate Connolly reported.

In a 38-minute recording German officers were heard discussing weapons for Ukraine, the possibility of supplying Taurus missiles, and a potential Ukrainian strike on the Kerch Bridge in Crimea. As part of the conversation, the participants discussed how Britain was working closely with Ukraine in deploying Storm Shadow missiles, and suggested Britain had troops in Ukraine .

Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, said the Russian eavesdropping was being investigated and most likely resulted from a random sweep of insecure data on the sidelines of the Singapore airshow, Kate reported separately. One of the participants dialled in from his hotel room, and either his mobile phone or an insecure connection in the hotel provided the vulnerability, Pistorius said.

Rather than publicly criticise Germany over the leak, Britain said it was for Berlin to investigate, and lobbied Germany to supply Kyiv with its Taurus missiles , which have a 300-mile range, twice that of Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp weapons system already given to Ukraine.

When the Ukrainians came to Ivybridge

Mother and daughter Paulina Zherdieva and Olena Bilokrenytska, and their pet dog, in their sponsors’ kitchen in Ivybridge, near Moorhaven

Two years ago, when the first displaced Ukrainians arrived in the UK, the photographer Frankie Mills followed a small group of women and children as they settled in rural Devon, Tess Reidy reported. Over the space of a year and a half, Valentyna Romanchuk, from Kharkiv, introduced Mills to her fellow Ukrainians in the village and the nearby town of Ivybridge, communicating through translation apps.

For Romanchuk, being part of the series felt like an escape . There were countless day trips, walks on the moors and ice-cream stops. “We spent many wonderful hours surrounded by nature in the reserve,” she says. What came next was Good Evening, We Are From Ukraine , a photographic project which follows the small community of women and children as they rebuild their lives. The title, taken from the words Mills had seen printed on a young boy’s T-shirt, was a wartime slogan used across the country. She has now been shortlisted for a Sony world photography award for the series.

  • Nuclear power

Most viewed

David Seaman's wife Frankie Poultney reveals they are not planning to have children

The pro-skater who met the Arsenal legend on Dancing on Ice says she's happy being stepmum to his four children from two previous marriages

David Seaman and Frankie Poultney

  • 19:57, 13 Jun 2015

Dancing on Ice star Frankie Poultney has revealed she and new husband David Seaman won’t have kids.

Ex-Arsenal goalie David , 51, has four from two earlier marriages.

And pro skater Frankie is happy just being a stepmum. “I’m 42 and there are health implications,” she said. “Also, babies are not something I’ve ever really wanted.

“I’m lucky to have a great relationship with David’s kids. The youngest is 13 and I don’t think we’ll have anybody younger than that pitter-pattering around.”

They met on the ITV show’s live tour in 2008 and married in February. Frankie had ended her marriage to a Canadian engineer and David had ended his to Debbie, with whom he has Georgina, 14, and Robbie, 13. He has Dan, 29, and Thomas, 27, with his first wife.

Frankie said: “We’re still in the honeymoon phase. It’s amazing.

“We’re both very happy and I hope people see that.”

At a Pink Ribbon charity lunch at Champneys Tring health spa in Hertfordshire, Frankie added that they are both from South Yorkshire but have very different personalities.

“David’s very difficult to rattle. He’s such a calm person. I’m quite the opposite of that,” she said.

Her Dancing on Ice stint ended in March last year when the show was cancelled after nine series.

“I’m so sad about that,” she said.

“But we still do a professionals’ tour – so I have to stay fit for that.”

MORE ON Dancing on Ice David Seaman Divorce Marriage Talent shows

Celeb obsessed get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox.

IMAGES

  1. David Seaman and Frankie return to wedding venue and talk exciting

    frankie poultney cruise ship

  2. Inside David Seaman and Frankie Poultney’s relationship

    frankie poultney cruise ship

  3. Chris Fountain & Frankie Poultney skating Week 3

    frankie poultney cruise ship

  4. What a catch! David Seaman MARRIES Dancing On Ice partner Frankie

    frankie poultney cruise ship

  5. David Seaman and Frankie Poultney

    frankie poultney cruise ship

  6. 50 Hot Frankie Poultney Photos That Will Make Your Day Better

    frankie poultney cruise ship

COMMENTS

  1. Inside David Seaman & Frankie Poultney's relationship as they open up

    FRANKIE Poultney couldn't wait to get her skates back on when Dancing on Ice returned to ITV after a four year hiatus in 2018.But the professional ska. ... tragedy came two years after the legendary broadcaster died of a heart attack at 74 while onboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

  2. David Seaman and Frankie return to wedding venue and talk exciting

    The couple married in 2015. 06 Feb 2022. HELLO! @hellomag. David Seaman and his wife Frankie have returned to the Cotswolds hotel where they married for an exclusive photoshoot and interview with ...

  3. Frankie Poultney Biography

    From 2002 to 2006 Frankie Poultney was the principal Adagio skater in Planet Ice aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Explorer of the Seas.Frankie Poultney on Dancing on Ice. In 2015 she married David Seaman. Frankie Poultney on Dancing on Ice In 2012, Frankie was paired with Mark Rhodes in Dancing on Ice. They were the third pair to be ...

  4. David Seaman and Frankie Poultney's relationship timeline ...

    David Seaman and Frankie Poultney's relationship timeline: From meeting on Dancing On Ice to their wedding . Dancing On Ice recently finished after returning...

  5. Look back at David Seaman and Dancing on Ice pro Frankie Poultney's

    The Harry's Heroes star married in 2015. David Seaman shed a stone while training for the new ITV show Harry's Heroes, and there was one person who supported him throughout his weight loss journey ...

  6. David Seaman's Dancing on Ice wife Frankie Poultney ...

    Former Dancing on Ice pro Frankie, who starred on the show between 2007 and 2014, discovered a lump in one of her breasts earlier this year. Football legend David Seamen's wife, Frankie Poultney ...

  7. David Seaman and Frankie Poultney engaged after meeting on Dancing On

    Strapping former England goalie David , 50, appeared in the first series of Dancing On Ice in 2006 when he was paired with Pam O'Conner. But he met iddy biddy Frankie, 40, when he took part in the ...

  8. David Seaman and Frankie Poultney's relationship ...

    Professional skater Frankie and former footballer David Seaman looked loved up at royal ascot in 2017 (Image: Getty) Meeting The couple first met through Dancing On Ice, way back in 2008.

  9. Frankie Poultney

    Frankie Poultney. Actress: Annual Getaway. Frankie Poultney was born on 1 March 1973 in the UK. She is an actress, known for Annual Getaway (2009), Dancing on Ice Friday (2010) and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002). She has been married to David Seaman since 7 February 2015.

  10. What a catch! David Seaman MARRIES Dancing On Ice partner Frankie Poultney

    The couple met during the show's live tour in 2008 after Seaman finished fourth in the 2006 series. We revealed the pair's fling after Frankie, 41, had ended her marriage to Canadian engineer ...

  11. First Look at David Seaman and Frankie Poultney's Wedding…

    16th Feb 2015. First Look at David Seaman and Frankie Poultney's Wedding…. Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Jayne Torvill and Suzanne Shaw were among the guests. Rebecca McKnight. Rebecca McKnight ...

  12. David Seaman to marry DOI partner

    David Seaman to marry Dancing on Ice partner Frankie Poultney. The pair met when they took part in the show's tour in 2008. By Catherine Earp Published: 28 December 2013.

  13. Inside David Seaman & Frankie Poultney's relationship as they open up

    Frankie Poultney met husband David Seaman through Dancing On ... tragedy came two years after the legendary broadcaster died of a heart attack at 74 while onboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

  14. Who are Pillar and Post on Masked Dancer 2022? Clues, theories and

    A small cruise ship in their first VT. ... One viewer tweeted: "Dancing on Ice, 100% Frankie Poultney and David Seamen." Another added: "100% David Seamen and Frankie Poultney. Met on Dancing on Ice."

  15. Dancing On Ice romances: All the couples who met on the show

    Frankie Poultney and David Seaman. Frankie Poultney and David Seaman (PA) Another Dancing On Ice success story was Frankie Poultney and David Seaman. The former England goalkeeper had a completely different skating partner when he first competed in series one, but met on the live tour in 2008 and fell in love, marrying in 2015. ...

  16. David Seaman enjoys a night out with glamorous wife Frankie Poultney

    David Seaman, 55, looks dapper as he enjoys a night out with glamorous wife Frankie Poultney, 45, at the Beating Hearts Ball... 11-years after they met on Dancing On Ice tour

  17. Frankie Poultney credits husband David Seaman for his support

    Frankie Poultney has revealed she recently suffered a cancer scare after finding a lump on her breast. The former Dancing On Ice professional, 50, assured that the lump was found to be a non ...

  18. David Seaman and wife Frankie Poultney still work out together

    They fell in love after training for Dancing On Ice together in 2008.. And 11 years on, David Seaman, 55, and Frankie Poultney, 46, say they still enjoy working out together to keep fit.

  19. The Masked Dancer: Who is Pillar and Post? All the clues and ...

    The clues seem to indicate it could be David Seaman and Frankie Poultney (Credits: PA) From the megaphone to the caps, there have been numerous references to sport, and David was a former ...

  20. David Seaman and Frankie Poultney share first picture from surprise

    Joyous: David Seaman and Frankie Poultney [centre with L-R Sol Campbell, Ian Wright, Jayne Torvill and Suzanne Shaw] have shared the first picture from their wedding and revealed her Dancing On ...

  21. Arsenal legend David Seaman: 'The kittens I foster are tiny and safe in

    The pair, who met in 2008 when Frankie became David's coach for Dancing on Ice, recently fostered two kittens which they named Marmite and Toast. "The kittens look extra tiny in my hands ...

  22. Pillar and Post unmasked on 'The Masked Dancer'

    The Masked Dancer has unmasked Pillar and Post as David Seaman and Frankie Poultney. In tonight's episode, three celebrities are being unmasked as although the show had planned an eviction, duo Pillar and Post have been forced out of the contest through injury. The pair were unable to dance in episode five as Pillar fell and injured her ankle ...

  23. What happened in the Russia-Ukraine war this week? Catch up with the

    On 14 February Ukraine sank a heavy assault ship, the Caesar Kuznikov, near the Crimean resort town of Alushka using the same class of Magura V5 naval drones. ... A Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile ...

  24. David Seaman's wife Frankie Poultney reveals they are not planning to

    Bookmark. Dancing on Ice star Frankie Poultney has revealed she and new husband David Seaman won't have kids. Ex-Arsenal goalie David , 51, has four from two earlier marriages. And pro skater ...