What is H from Steps’ real name? Get to know the Dancing On Ice star

Ian H’ Watkins is taking part in the current series of Dancing On Ice – and making history in the process. 

The former Steps star is one of half of the show’s first ever same-sex couple and the pairing was at H’s own request with ITV producers “fully supportive” of the decision.

He is partnered with professional skater Matt Evers, and has admitted that he was desperate to take part, having auditioned for the show three times before being accepted.

Here’s everything you need to know about about the star…

Who is Ian ‘H’ Watkins?

Ian ‘H’ Watkins was born in South Wales in 1976. 

He has explained that the nickname “H” stands for “hyperactive”, referring to his energetic character.

The singer shot to fame after joining the band Steps in 1997.

He applied by chance after spotting an advert for auditions in The Stage newspaper, and was chosen as part of the original line-up.

The band’s first single, 5,6,7,8, was released in 1997 to great commercial success. Steps went on to have two number one singles and two number one albums in the UK, 14 consecutive top 5 singles in the UK, and a nomination for a BRIT Award in 1999.

The band split abruptly in 2001.

What did H do after Steps?

After leaving Steps, H formed a musical duo with former bandmate Claire Richards, H & Claire. They enjoyed moderate success, but disbanded after only a year in 2003 when Claire decided to withdraw from the public eye.

He then decided to try his hand at musical theatre, and enrolled in a course at the Royal Academy of Music. He appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a West End version of Fame, and several Christmas pantomimes including Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.

H has also made several television appearances. His own reality TV show, H-side Story, followed him as he pursued his early acting career. He finished fourth in the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother, and competed in The Chase and Bargain Hunt Famous Finds.

H returned to Steps for their 2012 and 2017 reunions, the latter of which saw the band release their fifth album and place at number 2 in the UK charts.

What is H’s relationship history? 

In 2007, H came out as gay just before entering the Celebrity Big Brother house. He also revealed that he had been in a relationship with Steps manager Tim Byrne in the early years of the band.

H then went on to have a 10-year relationship with Craig Ryder. The couple welcomed twin sons together via surrogate in March 2016, Macsen and Cybi Ryder-Watkins, before splitting in late 2017.

In March 2008, Watkins presented a documentary for BBC Wales about his experience of growing up gay in Wales. As part of filming for the documentary, Watkins interviewed Christian Voice leader Stephen Green, who compared H to Jeffrey Dahmer.

In 2017, H was included on the Pink List of leading Welsh LGBT+ figures.

Dancing On Ice airs on Sundays on ITV at 6pm.