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Dancing on Ice 2021 line-up: meet the celebrity contestants of the new series - who's still in?

Dancing on Ice line-up who contestants 2021
Dancing on Ice line-up who contestants 2021

Dancing on Ice will be taking a break this Sunday, as injury and Covid dropouts take their toll. Fingers crossed we'll be back on the ice next weekend.

Now in its 13th series, the celebrity skateathon has been testing the nerve of a new cast of famous faces since they skidded, pirouetted and crash-landed onto our screens in January. This Morning's giggly duo Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield play host, while Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean return to the judging panel alongside John Barrowman and Ashley Banjo.

The contestants have been following a strict set of rules in keeping with the government's social distancing guidelines, training separately on local ice rinks and maintaining bubbles with their professional skating partners. The show will look different too, with judges boxed in behind perspex screens and pairs kept apart backstage.

The list of competitors features actors, rappers, reality stars and even... Rebekah Vardy.

Dancing on Ice 2021 contestants

Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan and partner Alexandra Schauman - ITV
Jason Donovan and partner Alexandra Schauman - ITV

Is there a better match for the most shamelessly kitsch show on TV than the undisputed king of cheese? Former Neighbours actor and Nineties popstar Jason Donovan straps on the spandex as he prepares to give us Ten Good Reasons why he should be champion.

Donovan, whose native Australia bears a conspicuous lack of ice, insists he is no stranger to skating: “It's all about balance and confidence. I’ve done a little bit of skating in my youth, in Australia surprisingly in the heat of an Australian summer. I’ve surfed, I’ve skied a lot so I guess I’ll bring a little bit of that confidence.

“I've always been a big fan of winter sports, whether it's ski-ing, skating, snowboarding...après ski-ing.”

Donovan had to sit out the fifth week of the competition due to back pain, but is expected to return when the show returns next weekend.

Faye Brookes
Faye Brookes and partner Hamish Gaman - ITV
Faye Brookes and partner Hamish Gaman - ITV

Actress Faye Brookes starred as Kate Connor in Coronation Street, but left the role in 2019. She said “This is the first time I think people are just going to see me, not being a character, just being me – Faye.”

Brookes follows in the footsteps of former Coronation Street colleagues Brooke Vincent and Jane Danson who appeared on the programme in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

“I’ve obviously had to keep this to myself. I saw Brooke yesterday and I was desperate to tell her but I thought one more day. She’ll be my first text message.”

Having initially been partnered with pro dancer Hamish Gaman, who dropped out because of a sock-related finger injury, Brookes will now be skating with Matt Evers.

Sonny Jay
Sonny Jay and partner Angela Egan  - ITV
Sonny Jay and partner Angela Egan - ITV

Singer and Radio DJ Sonny Jay first entered the public eye as a contestant on Britain's Got Talent with indie-pop band the Loveable Rogues. The 27-year-old currently hosts the Capital Radio Breakfast Show alongside Siân Welby and Roman Kemp.

Breaking the news mid-show, Jay said, “I’m going to be doing Dancing on Ice! I’m so excited, I don’t know how I kept it a secret.”

Lady Leshurr
Lady Leshurr and partner Brendyn Hatfield - ITV
Lady Leshurr and partner Brendyn Hatfield - ITV

Lady Leshurr is a rapper, singer and producer whose alternative “Queen Speech” freestyles shot her to viral fame in 2016. She opened for American rapper Nikki Minaj during her UK tour and has won the MOBO award for Best Female Rapper as well as a British Empire Medal in the 2020 Birthday Honours.

She said: “I'm petrified. I've always wanted to ice skate so what’s better than doing it in front of millions of people. I'm looking forward to having a new skill, skating backwards and just showing off in front of my friends.”

Colin Jackson
Colin Jackson with partner Klabera Komini - ITV
Colin Jackson with partner Klabera Komini - ITV

The second Olympian to join this year's line up, sprinter and hurdler Colin Jackson is a two-time world champion, former world record holder and Olympic silver medalist.

He is a regular athletics commentator and presenter for the BBC. In 2005, he competed on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing but fell at the final... obstacle, finishing runner-up to cricketer Darren Gough.

He said “I can do a little bit of skating. I think with sport in itself you've certainly got a bit of balance and that will be transferable in this circumstance. How much dancing we'll do, who knows? We'll see how the choreography goes.”

Appearing together on BBC Breakfast, Graham Bell joked about Jackson's competitive streak: “Colin's probably called up Katrina Witt and flown her over from Germany and hired her as a private coach!”

Rebekah Vardy
Rebekah Vardy and partner Andy Buchanan - ITV
Rebekah Vardy and partner Andy Buchanan - ITV

Perhaps the most left-field inclusion in this year's competition is model, TV personality and WAG-extraodinaire Rebekah Vardy, wife of Premier League football star Jamie Vardy.

She appeared on I'm a Celebrity in 2017 and has since featured on Loose Women and Celebrity Gogglebox.

Vardy gained particular notoriety in 2019 when Coleen Rooney alleged her involvement in a series of leaks to the Sun newspaper, claims which Vardy disputes.

The British public embraced the spat with unseasoned delight, and the phrase “it's... Rebekah Vardy's account” became etched into internet folklore.

Vardy said: “My dad taught me how to stand up on a pair of skates when I was about seven years old. He used to take us to the local ice rink so it's a really fun family thing for us to have done together.” She added “I’m so ready for the sequins and full glam squad. After months of lockdown it will be good to get the glam on.”

Who has left the show so far?

Myleene Klass
Myleene Klass and partner Lukasz Rozycki - ITV
Myleene Klass and partner Lukasz Rozycki - ITV

The singer and presenter was the first celebrity skater to be announced. She rose to fame with the first reality TV pop group Hear’Say, which she joined during ITV’s Popstars in 2001.

Her runner-up appearance on I'm a Celebrity... in 2006 helped to launch a career as a presenter and TV personality, becoming a regular on The One Show and Loose Women.

Klass said: “I have a 13-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old daughter who are obsessed with ice skating. I stand there and hold the coats. Now it's my turn to learn and I can't wait!”

Myleene Klass was sent home in week two.

Denise Van Outen
Denise Van Outen and partner Matt Evers - ITV
Denise Van Outen and partner Matt Evers - ITV

Actress, presenter and singer Denise Van Outen is no stranger to reality television, finishing as runner-up on Strictly in 2012 and appearing as a futuristic, shiny fox on ITV's bizarre guessing game The Masked Singer.

She shares an unlikely connection with fellow contestant Jason Donovan, having recently joined the cast of Australian soap Neighbours.

Van Outen said: “After the year we've all had it's going to be lovely and refreshing to see a bit of sparkle, a bit of glamour and see us all happy and smiling enjoying ourselves on the ice.”

Denise withdrew from the competition in week two after injuring her shoulder.

Graham Bell
Graham Bell and partner Yebin Mok - ITV
Graham Bell and partner Yebin Mok - ITV

Graham Bell is no stranger to slippery conditions or sub-zero temperatures, having represented Great Britain at five Winter Olympics and competing in the 160 mile cross-country skiing Arctic Circle Race.

Since hanging up the poles, he has built a successful career in broadcasting. Bell has presented a number of popular winter sport programmes alongside Ed Leigh, including the BBC's Ski Sunday.

He said “Ice doesn't scare me, it's the dancing”, admitting his experience extended to “dancing on tables, wearing ski boots in après ski. It's not graceful and elegant!”

Earlier this week, Bell's partner Yebin Mok suffered an injury during training, when his skate lacerated her leg, meaning he will be partnered with Karina Mantra until Mok has recovered.

Graham Bell was sent home in week three.

Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound and partner Robin Johnstone - ITV
Rufus Hound and partner Robin Johnstone - ITV

Rufus Hound rose to prominence on the British comedy circuit and appearances at the Edinburgh Festival. He has since featured as a regular guest on comedy panel shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Celebrity Juice, while winning acclaim for his performances on the West End.

Hound could be a dark horse on the ice, having proved his dancing prowess by winning the Strictly Christmas Special in 2013.

He joked “I'm doing it for the money. I don't know if you've heard but about six months ago this global pandemic hit and made just about everything I've ever done to earn a pound note disappear!”

“The God's honest truth is as life goes on you find yourself at a moment where you go right I could do this, I could do that and then fate conspires and you end up doing the most fun things.”

Rufus Hound withdrew from the competition in week three after testing positive for coronavirus.

Billie Shepherd
Billie Shepherd and partner Mark Hanretty - ITV
Billie Shepherd and partner Mark Hanretty - ITV

Reality TV personality Billie Shepherd is best known for appearing on The Only Way is Essex and The Mummy Diaries alongside her sister Sam Faiers.

She said: “I still can’t believe I am actually doing it! I am so nervous but so excited. I have zero ice skating or dance experience, but I’m going to give it my all.”

Billie Shepherd was forced to withdraw from the competition in week four after sustaining a head injury during rehearsals.

Matt Richardson
Comedian Matt Richardson
Comedian Matt Richardson

Comedian Matt Richardson and his pro-skater partner Vicky Ogden joined the line up from week three after Rufus Hound had to withdraw following a positive test for Covid-19.

Richardson co-presented the ITV2 spin-off show The Xtra Factor with Caroline Flack in 2013, and in 2016 he became the drive-time presenter on Virgin Radio UK.

Posting on social media, he looked a little wobbly: "This is good enough to be on the show in 3 days, right? @dancingonice"

Matt Richardson was sent home in week four.

Joe-Warren Plant
Joe-Warren Plant and partner Vanessa Bauer - ITV
Joe-Warren Plant and partner Vanessa Bauer - ITV

Soap actors often start as little-known underdogs before winning over the crowd during the competition – think Gaynor Faye in the very first series, Kelvin Fletcher on Strictly in 2019 and even Joe Swash who triumphed on the ice last year.

Joe-Warren Plant, who plays Jacob Gallagher on Emmerdale, hopes to continue that grand tradition: “I’m so excited to learn something new. I’m in it to win it, 100 per cent!”

At 18-years-old, he's the youngest in the competition, but has no reservations about the show's notoriously garish costume department: “I can’t wait. I love getting dressed up, fancy dress parties, it's all part of the fun.”

Joe-Warren was forced to withdraw from the competition in week five after testing posting for Covid-19.

Amy Tinkler
Amy Tinkler
Amy Tinkler

British artistic gymnast and Olympic medal-winner Tinkler was the youngest member of Team GB at just 16-years-old and became the second British woman, after Beth Tweddle, to win a gymnastics medal in Olympics history, taking home the bronze. The 21-year-old, who is originally from County Durham, began her professional career in 2013 when she was just 14 and announced her retirement from gymnastics in January 2020.

She is partnered with skater Joe Johnson and came into the competition on week 3 after Denise Van Outen had to withdraw following a shoulder injury.

Tinkler said: "For the past 3 months Joe and I have been working super hard as the reserve team and we’re super excited to say we will be in the show on Sunday!"

Amy was sent home in week five.