'Dancing on Ice': Celebrity line-up confirmed

Dancing on Ice may not be returning to ITV until next year, but the line-up has already been confirmed. Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will once again host the series. The judges are unconfirmed for this year’s series, but we expect it will be once again Skating pros Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will return as judges, as well as dance choreographers Jason Gardiner and Ashley Banjo.

But who are next year’s Dancing On Ice celebrities? We can confirm the following 12 celebrities will be competing in 2019…

Didi Conn

67-year-old American actress Didi Conn has signed up for this year’s Dancing on Ice. She is best known for her legendary portrayal of in the classic 1978 movie Grease.

“Boy oh boy, I’m going from being a Pink Lady to Queen of the Ice. I’m coming to the UK on Monday and I can’t wait to see you!” Conn said.

Saara Aalto

2016 X Factor finalist and Finnish pop artist Saara Aalto will join 2019’s Dancing on Ice. 31-year-old Aalto said of joining the series:

“I’m super excited about this, I love new challenges and I’m very ambitious. I can be very competitive, but I mainly want to challenge myself. I’ll be saying to myself ‘Saara, you need to push yourself more!’

“I am so ready for this and I can’t wait to get on the ice!” Aalto said.

Gemma Collins

Former TOWIE star and reality television regular (Celebrity Big Brother, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Celebs Go Dating) will be adding Dancing on Ice to her CV.

37-year-old Romford native has said she is excited to be on the series but also concerned her partner won’t be able to lift her.

“I am scared, I am nervous. I don’t know 1) how they are going to lift me up and 2) how fast I can move around that ice, but I really want to give it a go,” she told This Morning earlier this week.

Richard Blackwood

Former EastEnders actor, presenter and rapper Richard Blackwood admits he may have an advantage competing on Dancing on Ice – as he has some skating experience.

“I grew up in Sweden, so I used to skate out there. I can skate, but I normally dance on dry land. So dancing and skating are two different things, which I’ve got to combine,” Blackwood said.

Ryan Sidebottom

40-year-old former England cricket Ryan Sidebottom is an ex-teammate of Graeme Swann, who is currently competing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Sidebottom said he’s ‘immensely excited’ about joining the ITV series.

“I’m just going to enjoy the ride, I don’t take myself too seriously. I’m going to embrace it, enjoy it, and have a laugh and a giggle along the way!” Sidebottom said.

James Jordan

James Jordan is a former professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. Once known as the ‘bad boy’ of Strictly he has a bit of a cheeky reputation and should hopefully inject some spice into 2019’s Dancing on Ice.

Jordan has already come under fire for having an ‘advantage’ as a trained dancer competing in the upcoming series.

However, he defended his right to partake in the show on BBC Radio Five Live this week.

“People are going to probably say I’ve got an unfair advantage but when I got on the ice, I actually shocked myself how bad I was,” he said.

Brian McFadden

It was recently revealed that Westlife has reunited and will be touring, but without former band member Brian McFadden. But all is not lost for McFadden, as he will be instead competing on Dancing on Ice.

The 38-year-old said he’s already been practicing for his upcoming reality stint with rollerblades in his back garden.

“I’m very excited. I’ve already been practising out the back garden on my rollerblades and my mum says I’m a one man Torvill and Dean. Watch this space!” he said.

Saira Khan

Loose Women presenter Saira Khan will be trading the talk show panel for the ice rink in just a few months. The 48-year-old presenter and media personality said she is ‘in it to win it’ and that ‘I’m doing it for my kids, not for the money.’

Wes Nelson

Following in fellow former Love Island contestant Kem Cetinay’s footsteps, 20-year-old Wes Nelson said he thinks Gemma Collins will easily beat him on Dancing on Ice.

“Gemma Collins is going to wipe the floor with me, I’m super intimidated. I’ve been looking at the line up thinking ‘oh my gosh!’ Of course you’ll be seeing my hips on the ice and the hips don’t lie!” Nelson said.

Melody Thornton

The youngest member of naughties pop band Pussycat Dolls Melody Thornton, announced on Good Morning Britain she has signed up for Dancing on Ice.

The 34-year-old told the audience in a video message, “I can’t wait to see you and I can’t wait to do some skating for you!”

“It’s obviously something totally different, massively out of my comfort zone. I’m just going to enjoy the ride, I don’t take myself too seriously. I’m going to embrace it, enjoy it, and have a laugh and a giggle along the way,” Thornton added.

Mark Little

Former Neighbours actor Mark Little, who played Joe Mangel from 1988-2005, The 58-year-old actor looks very different from his Aussie soap opera days, and he admitted he’s ‘not a youngster’ anymore.

“I’m not a youngster. But it’s not about age, it’s about poise!

“I think it’s a real shame that we don’t do more of it – dancing – because it’s a good social… it’s really good for the soul. Everybody can dance. Bad dancing is still dancing!” Little said of signing up for Dancing on Ice.

Jane Danson

Jane Danson, who has been playing Leanne Battersby on Coronation Street since 1997 will be dipping her toes into the reality television arena next year.

Danson said she is treating it as a challenge for reaching the ripe old age of 40-years-old.

“I’ve got a big birthday next month so I’m seeing it as a challenge for the fab 40.

“I’m just looking forward to it and trying not to think about being damaged. It’s been a bit of a life long dream.”

When is Dancing on Ice on?

Dancing on Ice will return in 2019 for its 11th series but the exact launch date is unconfirmed. However, traditionally the series begins in January.

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