'Dancing On Ice': Paralympic medallist Stef Reid is latest celebrity skater announced
Dancing On Ice has revealed that its third celebrity contestant taking part in the new series will be Paralympic athlete Stef Reid.
The bronze medal-winning track and field athlete will join Happy Mondays star Bez and Coronation Street's Sally Dynevor on the ice for the celebrity figure-skating contest.
Reid, 36, 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!”
Read more: John Barrowman will not return to Dancing On Ice after sexual misconduct controversy
Watch: Tokyo marks end of Paralympics as Team GB scoop 124 medals
The multi medal-winning long jumper lost her right lower leg and foot in a boating accident when she was 15 years old
Born in New Zealand to British parents, Reid grew up in Canada. She now lives in England with her Canadian wheelchair-racer husband Brent Lakatos.
Bez, real name Mark Berry, was a guest on Monday's This Morning as Dancing On Ice hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield revealed he had signed up to skate.
The 57-year-old warned that he was unlikely to win the show and said he thought he'd been chosen as the joke contestant.
He said: "How I got picked I don't know because I was absolutely awful at the audition.
"I think that's why they picked me.
"Last year at Christmas I ended up using my son's penguin to get round the ice."
Soap star Dynevor – who battled breast cancer in 2009 – said: "I'm 58, if I don't do it this year I'm never going to do it. It's completely out of my comfort zone and I'm absolutely terrified... but I've just got to try and enjoy this experience."
This year's contestants will need nerves of steel to take part in the show after Dancing On Ice 2021 saw its highest ever number of dropouts due to injury or illness.
Denise Van Outen had to quit with a dislocated shoulder, Billie Shepherd was concussed, Jason Donovan suffered a back injury, and Rufus Hound and Joe-Warren Plant both tested positive for COVID.
Pro skaters had a tough series too, with Hamish Gaman suffering a finger injury and Yebin Mok undergoing surgery after her partner Graham Bell accidentally stabbed her in the leg with his skating blade.
Read more: Dancing On Ice's Jason Gardiner says being on TV was 'toxic'
Meanwhile, John Barrowman, who was facing allegations of sexual misconduct earlier in the year, has been axed from the judging panel.
An ITV spokeswoman said in a statement: “We thank John for two brilliant years on the Dancing on Ice panel and are pleased to be working with him again as host of the forthcoming All Star Musicals specials.”
Watch: John Barrowman dropped from Dancing On Ice following flashing claims