Fear & Gibson Return to Grand Prix Stage at NHK Trophy in Osaka

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are set to represent Great Britain at this weekend’s NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan, the fourth stop in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

©International Skating Union

Fresh off a silver medal at the Grand Prix de France, the reigning World bronze medallists will be looking to build on their strong start to the season as they take the ice across Friday and Saturday (7–8 November).

The event is a key part of the road toward qualifying for the Grand Prix Final - an elite six-team showdown featuring the world’s top performers from the series. A strong finish in Osaka could see Fear and Gibson secure their place at the Final, which takes place in Japan this December.

Also flying the flag for Great Britain in Japan is Nick Russell, who will serve on the judging panel for the event.

Silver Success in France for Fear & Gibson

At the season‑opening Grand Prix de France in Angers, Fear and Gibson delivered two season’s‑best performances:

• Rhythm Dance: 84.38 (1st in the segment)

• Free Dance: 125.86 (2nd in the segment)

• Total Score: 210.24 (2nd overall)

  
  

They finished less than a point from gold, securing silver and extending their impressive Grand Prix podium streak.

What’s at Stake: Grand Prix Final Qualification

Skaters accumulate points across their two Grand Prix assignments, with the top six teams in each discipline qualifying for the ISU Grand Prix Final. A podium finish at NHK Trophy would place Fear and Gibson in strong contention, particularly with other key contenders competing across the next two Grand Prix events.

The duo secured Great Britain's first ever Grand Prix Final medal last year when they claimed bronze in Torino. With the Grand Prix Final set to be Lilah and Lewis' final international appearance before returning to the UK for the European Championships in January, a strong result in Osaka would not only mark their consistency at the highest level, but also provide vital momentum heading into the second half of the season.

NHK Trophy Competition Times (UK Time)

All times below have been converted from local Osaka time (UTC+9) to UK time (UTC):

Friday 7 November

• 🕒 Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance: 03:35 – 04:54

• 🕒 Pairs – Short Program: 05:35 – 06:41

• 🕒 Men – Short Program: 07:15 – 08:45

• 🕒 Women – Short Program: 10:00 – 11:30

Saturday 8 November

• 🕒 Ice Dance – Free Dance: 03:00 – 04:33

• 🕒 Pairs – Free Skating: 05:00 – 06:18

• 🕒 Men – Free Skating: 07:35 – 08:35

• 🕒 Women – Free Skating: 10:30 – 12:20

NHK Trophy is one of the most prestigious and historic events on the Grand Prix calendar, regularly attracting the world’s top talent. The 2025 edition is being held at Asue Arena Osaka, with skaters competing across men’s, women’s, pairs, and ice dance categories.

Fans in the UK can follow the action live or on-demand via the Skating ISU YouTube channel or through broadcast providers listed at isu.org.

British Ice Skating extends its best wishes to Lilah, Lewis, and Nick for a successful weekend at NHK Trophy.