Dancing on Ice 2023 kicks off later on Sunday and features six celebrities in the first of two episodes of the split premiere.
The first group of skaters, including former EastEnders actress and DJ Patsy Palmer, kick off the 15th series of the ITV reality competition before another five celebrities brave the ice next Sunday.
Palmer, 50, will face professional partner Matt Evers, 46, who has been with the show since its inception in 2006.
Ahead of her first performance, Palmer said: I was also thinking about my age and thought I might get hurt, and since I’m[based]in LA I didn’t know how that would work.
“But I thought it would work. It would be a great challenge. I always think.”
Also in the first show are former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Joey Essex, along with his professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer and Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu as Blendy. On the ice with N. Hatfield.
The 32-year-old Essex has already revealed that a training accident required stitches to his finger.
he said: He had stitches on his fingers. Pretty bad. “
Former Liberty X Pop Group member Michelle Heaton and professional Lucas Rozicki are also joining the first show, as well as Siva Kaneswaran and Krabella Komini of boy band The Wanted.
Kaneswaran, 34, said he signed up to “face his fears” after witnessing the “infectious” bravery of his late bandmate Tom Parker.
He also said that after Parker died of brain cancer last year at the age of 33, he was reminded that “life was worth living.”
Retired Olympic gymnast Niall Wilson has partnered with ice dancer Olivia Smart, a new addition to the 2023 lineup.
Next week we welcome former ice football player John Fashanu and professional Alexandra Sjoman. Coronation Street actress Molly Gallagher, professional Sylvain Longchambon, comedian Darren Harriott and professional Tippy Packard.
Drag queen The Vivienne, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, skated with pro Colin Grafton, while soap star and West End musical performer Carley Stenson completed the line-up with pro Mark Hanretty. increase.
The 11 celebrities will be judged by Olympic skaters Jane Torvil and Christopher Dean, Diversity Dance Group founder Ashley Banjo, and former Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse, who will also be voted on by the public.
At the end of the second premiere episode, the couple with the lowest total score from each show will compete in a skate-off to see who leaves the competition.
This morning Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will once again host the reality show.
Dancing on Ice airs tonight, January 15th at 6:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.