Dancing on Ice 2021 line-up: meet the confirmed celebrity contestants of the new series
Despite rumours that Dancing on Ice 2021 could be postponed following another national lockdown, ITV is going ahead with the pairs training together in isolation.
Now in its 13th series, the celebrity skateathon is set to test the nerve of a new cast of famous faces as they skid, pirouette and crash-land onto our screens on Sunday 17 January at 6pm. 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
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.”
Myleene Klass
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!”
Joe-Warren Plant
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.”
Denise Van Outen
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.”
Faye Brooks
Actress Faye Brooks 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.”
Brooks 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.”
Sonny Jay
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 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.”
Billie Shepherd
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.”
Rufus Hound
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.”
Graham Bell
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.
Colin Jackson
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
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.”
