The three Dancing on Ice finalists have hit back at claims of unfair advantage, saying their experience made the show better.
Kimberly Wyatt, Brendan Cole and Regan Gascoigne are all professionally trained dancers.
Viewers have suggested it put them in a more favourable position than other contestants because they could learn routines and sequences faster.
But Pussycat Doll star Kimberly, 40, said: “I’ve always been known for my flexibility, that is something I’ve always done.
"I’ve been really grateful for my dance background, absolutely, but with that comes the fact that we’re going for things that have not been done before.
“When I did the invert spinning split, no one had done that before and maybe if I did not have a dance background I would not have had the nerve to go for it.
“You’re never going to convince everybody that you deserve to be there or don’t deserve to be there.
"Ultimately, we’ve all gone out there and done our best to create the best series ever and I think we are going into what could be the best final ever – because of the three of us.”
Kimberly’s sentiments were echoed by her show rivals.
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan, 45, said: “If we were all the same, would that not make for a really dull show?
"It just so happened that the three of us have got dance experience and we are all
now pushing each other to do the most incredible television.”
And theatre star Regan, 26, said being on ice was “totally different” to any other kind of dancing.
Waving his arms to emphasise his point, he said: “We know how to operate this part, but the steps and the routines are different.
"You do something and they go, ‘Oh, that’s wrong’.
“We all started from nothing to get here so I think it’s different.”
The trio have been perfecting their routines ahead of tonight’s final and said that while there will be no head-bangers, the night will be filled with danger.
Regan, who is partnered with Karina Manta, said: “I am starting on a 6ft-high stage and being flipped around above it.”
His rival Brendan joked he had “been messing about with the nuts and bolts” to sabotage the routine.
And Kimberly, whose partner is Mark Hanretty, said: “I’m working on this kick over Mark’s head and at times, it’s not been going right.
“Because he’s got my leg, there are times I just fall forward – head-to-the-ice situation – so I am really keen to get it working well before Sunday.
"That one feels quite dangerous.”
Brendan said he still feels bad for the scar he left dance partner Vanessa Bauer with after his skate cut her back. “I left my mark on Vanessa. It’s still there,” he said.
“Things happen in ice skating that you can’t see coming.
"When I sliced her back, I was actually in the middle of a lift and my leg and my abductor went and snapped and it threw me on the ice, it threw her on the ice and subsequently my skate went ‘Slice!’ across her back.
“It could have been really horrific.”
But Brendan said he agreed with the famous saying, “No pain, no gain”.
“They will all be part of this ridiculous, epic thing we’ve been doing and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we’ve had the most incredible time.
"It has been an amazing thing to be a part of.
"I am going to miss the bumps and bruises and pains because when you are pushing through a pain, you know you are in it for the right reasons.”
The trio cannot reveal what they plan to do after the show but Kimberly hopes to be back on stage with the Pussycat Dolls soon.
“It’s just a waiting game at the minute,” she said. “I’m going to stay hopeful and optimistic because I feel like there’s unfinished business.
“I really hope we can go out there and live the dream again.”
But for now, Kimberly, Brendan and Regan are focusing all of their attention on just one thing – tonight’s final on ITV, hosted by Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
“We’ve pushed each other so hard to create beautiful numbers and the show has been really well received,” Brendan said.
“I think production has done a phenomenal job with everything – not just us but the way they’ve put the show together and the set. It’s just been an epic series to what I have seen in the past of Dancing on Ice and I’m really proud to be part of this particular one.”
Past contestants believe tonight’s final is going to be the tightest yet.
Liberty Poole said: “I definitely think this week’s Final is going to be the most competitive, high-standard Final yet. All three of the finalists are very talented at what they do.”
Paralympian Stef Reid said: “I genuinely think it will go down to the wire and it’s really hard to predict.”
And Happy Mondays star Bez says he is rooting for Kimberly: “As a girl hasn’t won in a while.”
