A SCHOOL in Colwyn Bay has send its best wishes to an ex-pupil prior to his first appearance on ITV’s “Dancing on Ice” this weekend.

“The Vivienne” is the alter ego of James Lee Williams, who attended Rydal Penrhos School, and who is skating in this year’s competition with dance partner, Colin Grafton.

James was the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK as “The Vivienne”, and has also appeared on Emmerdale and The Great British Sewing Bee.

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Rydal Penrhos wished James the best ahead of his first appearance on the show, where he is one of 11 celebrities taking part in its 15th series.

The school said: "Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to wish James (The Vivienne) the very best of luck during Dancing on Ice.

“Everyone at the school will be watching with great excitement and is immensely proud of everything he continues to accomplish.

"We are proud to have played a part in The Vivienne's rise to global superstardom thanks to the exceptional foundation to flourish James received as a pupil."

James credited Rydal Penrhos, which he attended from 2003-08, for providing a safe, happy environment to flourish.

He also said the school instilled in him the work ethic to thrive in later life, and also praised the staff for treating him as an individual.

James said: “I think Rydal Penrhos gave me an amazingly safe and accepting place I wouldn’t have got in many other schools.

“I was extremely flamboyant, I remember Mr (Denis) Lavin casting me in the Sixth Form production of West Side Story.

“I was Year 10 at the time so this was huge for me. he saw something in me and allowed me to do it even though it wasn’t even my year group’s production. I was very flattered.

“I’d put my strong work ethic down to my time at Rydal Penrhos. If I learned anything in my time there it was to be on time.

“So, I always like to turn up on time, be nice to people and do the best I can.

“The fabulous staff never judged me for being different, even though I didn’t know what I was going through at the time.

“It was all so new to me, so to have teachers who were so positive was worth more than its weight in gold.”

“Dancing on Ice” airs on Sunday, January 15 on ITV 1 at 6.30pm.