'Dancing On Ice' 2022: All the celebrity and pro skater couples taking part

Dancing On Ice returns to the rink in 2022 and the celebrity contestants are already being revealed.

Not deterred by last year's long list of injury and illness dropouts, these brave amateur skaters will be hoping to impress with daring routines in the New Year.

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Here are all of the famous faces who've been confirmed for the cast of Dancing On Ice 2022 so far.

Brendan Cole

Partner: Vanessa Bauer

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Brendan Cole was announced to be taking part in the 2022 edition of the skating competition.

Appearing on Loose Women, Brendan said: “I’m so, so excited. It’s been a while coming now. I’ve known I’d be doing the show for quite some time and I want to get started, I’m so excited to be on the show.”

On his ice-skating experience to date he said: “I’ve had one go. I’m a fairly confident person and I like to think I’m going to be good at what I put my hand to or my feet to! I was thinking okay I’m going to be fine, I’m going to be out there and I was terrible. I was a bit wobbly. You can expect to be a bit wobbly on ice but I was hoping I was going to be better than I was. I’ve got time to learn. I’m just going to embrace the whole experience and I’m very excited to get started.”

Cole said he intended to work hard, having experienced life as the teacher on Strictly: "There’s nothing more frustrating as a teacher to be giving something that you think is particularly easy or logical or simple or whatever and then have them look at you with a blank face.

"I want to be that student that is like right got you, I'm onto that and I’ll put it into practice. Maybe I can’t do it now but I will the next time I see you. I want to be that student. A bit of a swot! I want to inspire the teacher."

Sally Dynevor

Partner: Matt Evers

First to be confirmed for the new series was Coronation Street legend Sally Dynevor, best known for playing Sally Webster for 35 years.

The 58-year-old mum of Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor said: “This is a massive challenge, It really, really is. I’m not getting any younger, I’ve just got to take every opportunity I get so that when I’m old I can say you know what? I gave it a go.”

Dynevor has apparently been approached by the series many times before, but is finally taking up the offer and has asked her Corrie co-stars who've skated before for tips, including screen daughter Brooke Vincent.

The soap star added: "When I did a practice skate with the coach, he picked me up and spun me around and put me down on the ice and I burst into tears. I just thought how wonderful, when do you get to be picked up and spun around? You just don’t, especially when you’re my age."

Bez

Partner: Angela Eagan

Happy Mondays maraca-shaking dancer Bez has also been confirmed, but has said he thinks he might be the joke signing of the series.

Bez, 57, said: “At the moment it’s more like Bambi on Ice, not Dancing On Ice. How I got picked I don’t know because I was absolutely awful at the audition but they must have seen some potential in me!”

During lockdown, Bez began working on his fitness by launching a YouTube exercise channel called Get Buzzin' with Bez.

Admitting to never having watched the show before, he said: "I can’t wait until the ice rinks are open next Christmas time and I’ve got these fancy Cuban heeled boots. I’ll be on the ice skating backwards, I won't be holding onto the penguin any more!"

Stef Reid

Partner: Andy Buchanan

Track and field Paralympian Stef Reid, 36, was the third celebrity to sign up for the new series and shared her news on Good Morning Britain.

She said: “I have some really exciting news. I’m going to be picking up a new sport this winter and it comes with a little bit of showbiz. I’m going to be a contestant on Dancing On Ice and it’s a little bit scary but I cannot wait!”

Talking about growing up in Toronto, Reid said: "I specifically remember when I was in the accident in which I lost part of my right leg. When I got fitted with my new artificial leg one of the first things that I wanted to do was to go back to a skating rink to see if I could skate around.

"The first lap I did I kept falling...All it took was two laps of falling and then I was fine and I could skate a lap because your brain will adjust and you’ll figure it out, you just have to push through that really awkward part."

Rachel Stevens

Partner: Brendyn Hatfield

Former S Club 7 star Rachel Stevens is also lacing up her skates this winter, as she revealed on This Morning.

The 43-year-old mum-of-two said: “The opportunity came up and I thought what an amazing opportunity to learn a new skill. I love the whole idea of working with a team and your partner and also for my girls to be a part of this. They are at an age now where they love all the costumes.”

Stevens previously took part in Strictly Come Dancing, so she will bring a wealth of performing experience to the rink.

Liberty Poole

Partner: Joe Johnson

Love Island 2021 contestant Liberty Poole is heading back to reality TV, but swapping the sunshine for the ice.

Poole made it to days before the final of Love Island before she and Jake Cornish decided to split and voluntarily left the villa.

Read more: Dancing On Ice's Jason Gardiner says being on TV was toxic

The 21-year-old revealed a secret weapon in the competition: "I grew up watching Dancing On Ice and my mum actually used to be a figure skater.

"I ice skate as a hobby sometimes so I can get around the rink but I can't do any tricks, no pirouetting or anything so I'm really looking forward to pushing myself and learning as much as I possibly can. Not just skating around the ice but actually dancing on ice. Bring it on!"

But while Poole's basic skating skills are good, she admitted her dancing needed improvement: "When it comes to dancing I think my rhythm is questionable. It's when you go on a night out and you think you’re dancing really sexy and you look back and you’re actually doing the Macarena. It's one of them."

Ben Foden

Partner: Robin Johnstone

Ex-rugby union player Ben Foden will be trying out his skating skills in 2022 as one of the celebrity competitors.

The 36-year-old said: "I used to skate a little when I was a kid. I’d go to ice discos when I was 15, 16 and you’d always see these kids that could do pirouettes that had a proper dancing background.

"I like the idea of learning a new sport and a new skill. I’m quite competitive as well so I like the challenge of competing against others doing something that I’m not necessarily good at!"

Regan Gascoigne

Partner: Karina Manta

Paul Gascoigne's son Regan has joined the cast and is hoping to bring his performing experience as a dancer to the rink.

The 25-year-old said: "Obviously I dance and love dancing but it’s the skill of this. I’ve always wanted to do it. Always! Ever since I was a kid!"

Kye Whyte

Partner: Tippy Packard

Olympic medallist Kye Whyte, 22, made history in Tokyo as the first Brit to get a medal at the games in BMX events.

Now, he's swapping the bike track for the ice and said: “When I did the audition I kind of related it to roller-skating so I think I did pretty well… I think the thing I’m really confident about is I don’t really mind if I fall, I’m quite fearless.”

Whyte was open about his drive to win, adding: “I think I can win Dancing On Ice. I’d love to see if I can make the final because, as I said, I’m very competitive. You know what? I want to make the final!”

He added: "I believe I’m going to win, let's put it that way. I’m super competitive. I will give it 100% and that’s all you can do. If you’re not going to give it 100% you might as well not do it."

Ria Hebden

Partner: Lukasz Rozycki

Lorraine entertainment reporter Ria Hebden revealed that she was the showbiz story of the day as she announced that she was in the cast.

The 38-year-old said of her skating experience: “I went when I was 10 years old with my grandma and grandad to Bradford Ice Rink. I skated there. If I’m honest the last time I went on the ice was about six years ago with (son) Noah and I did more drinking of mulled wine than skating!”

She added: "I’m up for most things. Not the headbanger because I like my head on my neck! My face is my work so I’d like to keep it intact. Everything else - I’m up for it."

Kimberley Wyatt

Partner: Mark Hanretty

Pussycat Dolls star Kimberley Wyatt, 39, will be bringing her dance talents to the ice this series.

As well as her performing career, Wyatt has also been a judge on Got To Dance, won Celebrity MasterChef, and taken part in winter sports contest The Jump.

She told her bandmate Ashley Roberts on Heart Radio: “I have signed up for Dancing On Ice! I’m nervous, that ice is going to hit hard. I’m just excited to see what I can do on there. I’m up for a challenge!”

Wyatt knows show judge Ashley Banjo well as they used to judge Got To Dance together, but isn't expecting any special treatment: "I think he’s going to be really hard on me, to be honest. It makes me nervous to have been there next to Ashley for five series on Got To Dance in the same position, sharing the knowledge we have with contestants to now being on his show skating and willing him to be very critical!"

Connor Ball

Partner: Alexandra Schauman

The Vamps star Connor Ball was named as the final celebrity making up the cast of Dancing On Ice 2022 - but warned that he could join the long list of injured contestants.

Ball, 25, told reigning champion Sonny Jay on Capital FM: “I’m excited obviously but I’m really nervous. I’m quite clumsy, accident prone. Ice is hard! It was pretty hard to keep the secret. The rest of the band know. They’re super excited for me.”

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