Karen Barber poses only in feather boa

Dancing On Ice star Karen Barber has stripped off for a photoshoot to reveal her new slimmer body.

The head coach on the ITV1 reality show has shed 2 and a half stone over the past 12 months after taking fellow DOI star Jayne Torvill's advice and following the Hay Diet. The former Olympic star has apparently reduced her dress size to 6-8 by not eating carbohydrates with protein.

Barber has celebrated by posing in nothing but a feather boa for a shoot with this week's Closer magazine.

Speaking about her upcoming 50th birthday, she said: "I'm going to be 50 in June and I'm planning a huge party to celebrate. I've never felt so good. I was miserable with my body for a long time. I'd go shopping and just buy gloves and belts - I was too worried about how I looked to try clothes on."

On the subject of her new romance with fellow DOI star Christopher Dean, she added: "It took us both by surprise and we're taking things slowly, but yes I'm very happy. I'm keen to keep as much private as possible as it's still early days.

"We're also very busy so, while we see each other a lot at work, we're too tired to do much else other than go for dinner when we can."

The Dancing On Ice final airs on Sunday at 7.40pm on ITV1.

> Click here for our all our Dancing On Ice news