Twelve celebrities are currently hard at work training for the revamped series of Dancing On Ice.
Contracts have been signed, ice skates fitted and celebrity partners assigned which means it’s probably a bit too late for anyone to pull out…
Which they may well want to do after hearing Phillip Schofield’s words of warning!
The This Morning star returns to co-host DOI alongside BFF Holly Willoughby and, given he fronted the show for nearly a decade, he knows what it entails!
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Speaking to The Sun, Phillip, 55, said: “You’ve got to have very tough skin to be on the show – it’s a dangerous show.
“We all love Strictly but you’re not going to split your head open on Strictly.
“And probably you’re not going to break an arm. And what people forget is how sharp those blades are. It’s like a knife – so it’s dangerous.”
Phil’s comments echo those of former contestant Ray Quinn, who recently told Good Morning Britain it was a “dangerous” sport to master.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s a challenge, of course, but there are moments you fall and hurt yourself,” said Ray.
“It’s dangerous, it’s a dangerous sport. And it’s the little things as well that you don’t know about at home, like wearing your boots in, the blisters, the leg ache, the back ache.
“It’s a hard sport.”
That was clear when former contestant Jennifer Ellison cut her head open during a routine in 2012, finishing the performance with blood in her hair.
She accidentally hit her own head with her ice skate while doing a backwards kick.
At the time, Phillip told viewers: “We always say, don’t forget how sharp these skates are. She has a wound on her head which is being glued as we speak, which is the best way to stick it together.”
Ice skating legend Jayne Torvill agreed: “It’s that moment that emphasises how dangerous ice skating is and the blades are so sharp.”
Jennifer’s skating partner, Dan Whiston, added: “It was a very scary moment. I saw contact and I thought it was the leather of her skate but when I looked down her whole hair was just red.
“Obviously the heart’s pumping and a lot of blood came out.”
Thankfully, Jennifer was okay.
Dancing On Ice originally ran from 2006 until 2014 with Holly and Phil hosting the first six series together, and Phil being joined by Christine Lampard for the latter three series.
Holly and Phil are back to co-host the new series, which starts in 2018, and features Torvill & Dean, Jason Gardiner and Diversity’s Ashley Banjo on the judging panel.
Coronation Street fans are in for a treat with TWO of the soap’s favourites signed up to take part: Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster) and Antony Cotton (Sean Tully).
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Also taking part are Hollyoaks’ Steph Waring, Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown, I’m A Celebrity’s Jake Quickenden, Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton and rugby star Max Evans.
TV presenter Donna Air, cricketer Monty Panesar, Love Island winner Kem Cetinay, Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker and GMB weatherman Alex Beresford are also confirmed.