TV & Movies
Here's The Full Line-Up For Dancing On Ice 2021
All 12 contestants have now been announced.
Fans have been speculating about who will be featured in the Dancing On Ice line up for many months now and finally their prayers have been answered as we finally have the twelve contestants confirmed to take to the ice in 2021.
Concerns over TV cancellations have been rife this year owing to the coronavirus crisis. Dancing On Ice involves a lot of physical contact and a live studio audience, leaving fans worried about the future of the show. But lucky for ice skating buffs, it was confirmed back in August 2020 that Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield would be back for series 13 the following year and, on Jan. 6, 2021, ITV revealed the show would be back on our screens on Jan. 17 at 6 p.m.
Speaking about the precautions being taken, pro skater Matt Evers told New! magazine (via Digital Spy): "They've written new guidelines for production, keeping social distancing in mind and making sure there aren't mass gatherings with audiences." He added: "The likes of Strictly and Dancing on Ice may not have live audiences but ITV is adamant it still wants to create entertainment because, as humans, we need it."
So, now we've got that covered, let's get into the important stuff: the contestants.
Myleene Klass
As previously mentioned, singer, presenter, and model Myleene Klass is the first confirmed celebrity for Dancing on Ice 2021.
Revealing the news on Instagram yesterday, Klass revealed that she “won’t be holding the coats at the side of the rink anymore” and is “so SO excited to be joining the cast of @dancingonice.”
In a press statement (via Digital Spy), Klass explained that her daughters — who are “obsessed with ice skating” — were the ones that ultimately convinced her on to do the show. “They both ice skate and I stand there and I hold the coats,” she said. “That’s my roe — to tie the shoelaces and hold the coats. Now it’s my turn to learn and I can’t wait!”
Joe-Warren Plant
Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Planthas was the second star announced to be joining Dancing On Ice 2021. Plant, who plays Jacob Gallagher on the soap, said he was "excited" about the prospect of appearing on the show – especially the costumes. He'll be taking a six-month break from Emmerdale to train for Dancing On Ice, and the script writers will cover his absence by sending Jacob off for a long holiday in Portugal to visit his mum.
Denise Van Outen
TV presenter and actress Denise Van Outen is sure to bring a bit of pizazz to the Dancing On Ice lineup. Best known as co-host of hit morning show The Big Breakfast’s, Van Outen has also had huge success in the West End as Roxy Hart in the internationally acclaimed musical Chicago. "I can dance, I can move, so that is going to help me a bit," she told the Loose Women panel. "But being on the ice is completely different,” she added, “and I think even the pro skaters, even pro dancers that have tried ice skating say it's completely different.”
Van Outen told ITV that after keeping her latest gig quiet for so long, the person she’s most excited to tell is her daughter Betsy, who’s accompanied her to the ice rink and witnessed her skating abilities (or lack thereof). "Hopefully I'll be able to skate because I literally cannot stand up on ice and every time I've taken Betsy at Christmas time to a rink I've been the one on the penguin!"
Faye Brookes
Former Coronation street actress Faye Brookes is set to wow on the ice when the show returns in January. The 33-year-old actress is also a trained dancer so it’s likely Brookes will know how to put on a show for the judges. Yet, while she may already be a dazzler on the dancefloor, it turns out even Brookes is nervous about her DOI debut. Speaking on Thursday’s episode of Lorraine, she shared: "I'm a trained dancer, but attempting to put something I already know very well on skates is quite scary!" We think Brooke is being a little humble about her skills as she also revealed she had a “little experience” on the ice as her dad used to play ice hockey. A serious contender, Brookes.
Jason Donovan
Legend soap star and crooner Jason Donovan will also be joining the upcoming season of Dancing On Ice Contestants. While Donovan is no stranger to the stage or performance, the ice will certainly be a unique challenge for the entertainer. Following the announcement he tweeted, “I’ve always loved my winter sports, skiing, skating, snowboarding... I quite like my après ski as well! I can’t wait to get on the ice, have some fun and bring a big smile to everyone’s face in 2021!" It’s good news for Donovan, who recently announced that he had to postpone his Even More Good Reasons tour. Speaking on This Morning, the 52-year-old said: "Theatres are not happening, people are out of work, film is not happening and TV is what people are going to. So, I thought 'why not?'"
Sonny Jay
Capital DJ Sonny Jay was the sixth celeb to officially receive their blades for Dancing on Ice 2021. Following the announcement, the radio host admitted he’s a little worried about taking a few tumbles on the ice. Chatting to fellow Captial DJs Roman Kemp and Sian Welby on Friday’s breakfast show (Sept.25), he joked "I don't want to fall over, not in front of the nation. I don't want to be a meme the next day!"
Graham Bell
Olympic skier Graham Bell is no stranger to the ice, but “it’s the dancing and performing in front of millions of people that scares” him the most. Bell competed for Britain as a professional skier in the '80s and '90s, taking home a silver medal at the World Junior Ski Championships in 1984. He’s also represented the country at five Winter Olympics across his career.
Colin Jackson CBE
Announced alongside Bell on Sep. 26, Colin Jackson will be transferring his skills as a former sprint and hurdling athlete onto the ice. “My mantra is: ‘Stay focused and stay respectful of the ice’,” he told ITV, “because if you disrespect it, it’ll bite back!”
Jackson also has a former connection with Bell, who coached him on the BBC Sports programme Ski Sunday in 2007. The Olympic skier described Jackson as “an excellent pupil” during an appearance on BBC Breakfast, and that the “transferable skills of edge control, balance” he has will be helpful on the show.
Rebekah Vardy
In the biggest reveal yet, Rebekah Vardy was announced as the ninth contestant to for Dancing on Ice 2020 and the star has said she's totally “ready for the sequins and full glam squad”.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Vardy said part of the reason she's joined Dancing on Ice this year is to "clear her name" after the #WagathaChristie scandal she found herself embroiled in last year. "I will do whatever that takes," she said. "I hope it's going to be resolved soon. It's just one of the things that has to go through the process unfortunately now."
Billie Faiers
Reality TV star Billie Faiers first burst onto our screens when she appeared on TOWIE back in 2010. Since then, she's gone on to have a spin-off show alongside sister Sam, The Mummy Diaries, which documents their experiences of raising children.
Billie is married with two kids and is actually fairly familiar with the hosts of Dancing On Ice – in a low key awkward way. Back in 2019, Billie branded Schofield as "rude" in an interview with OK! after he asked on This Morning how much her wedding cost and whether she had gotten a "deal" from the hotel where they had it. Let's hope they've patched things up since...
Lady Leshurr
Brummie rapper, producer and all-round dynamite Lady Leshurr has been confirmed for the ice. Award-winning Leshurr (real name Malesha O'Garro) is no stranger to performing under pressure or reality TV competitions. She recently took part in Celebrity Masterchef 2020 and admits her cooking skills were an absolute "fail." While we’re hoping she fares better on the ice, Leshurr isn’t so confident. "Who am I kidding, I can’t skate to save my life so this will be interesting,” tweeted the rapper.
Rufus Hound
Comedian Rufus Hound will be strapping on his skates for this season of Dancing On Ice. Naturally, the 41-year-old made a joke about his upcoming appearance saying he’s “doing it for the money.” Speaking to ITV’s Sunday Best, he said: "I'm doing it for the money... Actually, the adventure of it is doing things that you might start off thinking, 'Not in a million years' and then fate conspires and you end up doing the most fun things."
Dancing on Ice returns to ITV on Jan. 17 at 6 p.m.
Contributions from Aoife Hanna, Sophie McEvoy, and L'Oréal Blackett.
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