Stars from the world of sport, TV and music have already been confirmed as contestants on the returning Dancing On Ice – and now it’s been revealed GMB’s weatherman Alex Beresford will be joining them.
Alex’s participation was announced on today’s show where he gave his usual weather reports from an ice rink outside The Natural History Museum.
He had teased hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard with the news that the latest contestant would soon be joining him on the ice… only to later surprise them by saying he was in fact the mystery skater.
Alex said he was delighted to finally share the news after keeping it quiet for so long.
He said: “I found out I was doing it in July and it has been the biggest secret I’ve ever kept.”
He added: “I’ve had three lessons so far so I’m at the beginning of my journey. I’m nervous but I can’t wait.”
Alex was able to get some tips from former champion Ray Quinn who was in the GMB studio today. He advised him to regularly bathe his feet in salty water to harden the skin so his ice skating boots would be more comfortable.
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Alex said he would love it if he could skate as well as Ray.
He said: “When I found out I was doing it I started watching videos on YouTube but I had to stop watching Ray as he was so good!”
Alex is the eight plucky skater to be unveiled when the ice dancing show returns to ITV in the New Year.
Also confirmed to take part is cricketer Monty Panesar, rugby player Max Evans, Bake Off winner Candice Brown, Bucks Fizz singer Cheryl Baker, Coronation Street actress Brooke Vincent, Love Island’s Kem Cetinay and The X Factor’s Jake Quickenden.
The stars have already started training for when Dancing On Ice returns to our screens after a three year hiatus with a revamped show.
Original presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will front the programme and harsh but fair judge Jason Gardiner will also be returning.
Olympic ice skaters Torvill and Dean will also be back, but this time they will be judges instead of mentors.
The celeb participants will be expected to master not just graceful ice skating but beautifully choreographed routines, sometime with tricky lifts, with the help of their professional partners.
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Most importantly, they’ll be hoping they don’t do a “Todd Carty” and fly uncontrollably off the ice and crash into the set on live TV!
Of course we wish all the celebs well but it would be funny if there is the odd slip up!