I MIGHT do a back flip just to say I can!"

That's three times World Free Skating champion and Olympic and European gold medallist Robin Cousins talking about his forthcoming birthday milestone.

"Well, I say that, but I think that might have been the brain talking not the body!" he backtracks giggling to himself.

Robin is deciding what he can do to celebrate the big 50 in August.

The 49 and a half-year-old doesn't look a day older than when he struck gold in the 1980 Olympics at the tender age of 23.

He's in excitable mood tonight as we are just minutes away from the UK premiere of his latest project - the ice spectacular Peter Pan on Ice.

The show is taking centre stage in front of a sell-out crowd on a make-shift ice rink under a marquee in the centre of Crystal Palace's athletics track.

A few big names in the world of showbiz have been assembled to provide voiceovers.

Entertainer Bonnie Langford is the voice of Wendy, Peter Pan comes in the form of ex-Coronation Street star Richard Fleeshman and TV presenter Carol Smillie.

Even the most distinguished voice in the world of entertainment actor Brian Blessed is providing the voice of baddie Captain Hook.

They are all here tonight nervously waiting to hear themselves and enjoy the show for the first time.

Some of the biggest names in figure skating are warming up in a makeshift press area inside a freezing tent.

They are super fit doing up to 12 two-hour shows a week plus training, but Robin is still panicking over whether their limbs are sufficiently warm or whether there will be any injuries tonight.

The former skater, who is directing and choreographing the show on behalf of Holiday on Ice Productions, has taken the show around the world where well-known people have provided the voices in each country.

Just in the last few weeks, the cast have been to such diverse places as China, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Turkey, France and Russia.

"Every week it's opening night in a different city or different country," Robin tells me.

"But England is the home of Peter Pan, so we're very excited. I'm sure we'll have a good time."

The show is excellent - perfectly fusing skilful ice dance with the magical tale of Peter Pan, plus aerobatics and fancy lights and costumes.

Huge bouquets of flowers are passed to all the skaters as they take their bows to the sounds of hundreds of children - and big children - screaming and clapping.

The aerial work, lifts and turns mean a lot of practice.

Robin adds: "For the past three months, we've done an average of ten or 11 hours a day. I do nine to five with everyone, then get on the ice with the principal skaters in the evening.

"But I don't ask anyone to do anything I couldn't or wouldn't do myself.

"I want them to do what I would do, but you can't teach poise, power or being able to deliver 12 shows a week."

So does he have a secret longing to be back out on the rink?

"No, I've had my time," he laughs.

"Having said that, if this production had been 15 or 20 years ago I would have been out there. But I couldn't do it now.

"Peter would have been a great role for me, but now I'm happy to do what I do. I've not been on the ice properly for 12 years.

"Now I can sit in the bath and think I never have to do a backflip again!"