Richard Blackwood

Actor, comedian and rapper Richard Blackwood is best known for his time on EastEnders playing police informant Vincent Hubbard, who departed the square last April.

Having presented Channel 5’s Singled Out in 1998 and The Richard Blackwood Show on Channel 4 in 1999, Blackwood is sure to bring his wit and charm to the show.

"I'm training because I know they're going to put me in some tight stuff,” said Blackwood. “There's going to be a lot of shape. I'm training from now!" 

Blackwood will take to the ice with skating partner Carlotta Edwards.

 

Gemma Collins

Television personality Gemma Collins made her debut on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011, and has since risen to fame becoming an author and presenter.

Collins has become a major player in the world of reality programming, having previously appeared on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Big Brother.

She said, "I know how hard it is. I've done my research! I am scared, I am nervous. I really want to give it a go. I love the costumes. I love fun factor!"

Collins will be joined by skating partner Matt Evers.

 

Brian McFadden

Finding fame as a former member of the iconic pop band Westlife, Brian McFadden went on to have a solo career as a singer and songwriter.

McFadden later became a judge on Australian Idol and Australia’s Got Talent, and presented the likes of ITV’s Who’s Doing the Dishes?

Most recently, McFadden appeared on The Jump on Channel 4.

"I'm very excited. I've already been practising out the back garden on my roller blades and my mum says I'm a one man Torvill and Dean."

McFadden will swap skis for ice skates with skating partner Alex Murphy.

 

James Jordan

Formerly a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, ballroom dancer James Jordan was also a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.

Jordan has appeared on a number of reality shows, including Loose Women and Celebrity Juice, as well as Your Face or Mine? with his wife and fellow professional ballroom dancer Ola Jordan.

"I can dance but I'm a lot older than I used to be,” said Jordan. “People are going to probably say I've got an unfair advantage but when I got on the ice I actually shocked myself how bad I was."

Showing Jordan the ropes is his skating partner Alexandra Schauman.

 

Ryan Sidebottom

Having taken more than 1000 wickets during his 20 year career, ex-international cricketer Ryan Sidebottom retired from the sport in 2017.

Sidebottom played for the 2010 World Twenty20 winning team and later played for Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

"I’m immensely excited. It’s obviously something totally different, massively out of my comfort zone,” Sidebottom said.

“I’m going to embrace it, enjoy it, and have a laugh and a giggle along the way.” 

With the help of skating partner Brandee Malto, will Sidebottom be as successful on the ice as he is with a ball?

 

Jane Danson

Jane Danson is best known for her portrayal of the outspoken Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street.

Danson joins a growing list of Coronation Street stars who have skated on the ice, including Antony Cotton and Samia Longchambon.

"I'm getting loads of tips from Samia (Longchambon), and Brooke (Vincent) and Antony (Cotton), and Andrew Whyment's done it before, so I've got real lovely support from the cast," Danson commented.

Danson will ditch the cobbles for the ice rink with skating partner Sylvain Longchambon.

 

Wes Nelson

Nuclear systems design engineer Wes Nelson previously appeared on our screens last summer in Love Island, where he and his partner Megan Barton Hanson came fourth in the reality show.

"Gemma Collins is going to wipe the floor with me,” said Nelson “Of course you'll be seeing my hips on the ice and the hips don't lie!" 

Nelson will be shaking his hips with skating partner Vanessa Bauer.

 

Saara Aalto

Finnish Person Of The Year, singer-songwriter Saara Aalto is best known for her time on the 2016 series of The X-Factor.

Although Aalto lost to Matt Terry, The X-Factor finalist competed on Finland’s Got Talent and The Voice Finland, leading her to represent Finland for Eurovision in 2016.

"I'm super excited about this, I love new challenges and I'm very ambitious. I can be very competitive, but I mainly want to challenge myself,” commented Aalto.

Helping Aalto meet her challenges is skating partner Hamish Gaman.

 

Mark Little

Stand-up comic, actor and presenter Mark Little rose to stardom playing the memorable Joe Mangel in the hit Aussie soap Neighbours.

Since his departure from the soap, Little has presented The Big Breakfast, has had regular appearances on The Wright Stuff and recently performed stand-up comedy in UK theatres.

"My skating is pretty rickety. I'll be trying to find the elegance, the strength, the smoothness,” admitted Little. “I'm a bit of a danger man, a bit of a risk taker, and I do like dancing so let's see what happens." 

Little will put his skating skills to the test with skating partner Brianne Delcourt.

 

Melody Thornton

Singer-songwriter Melody Thornton took the world by storm as part of the pop group The Pussycat Dolls, which sold over 54 million records.

Thornton has more recently appeared on a number of reality programmes including surviving the wilderness in Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls and trying to find love in Celebs Go Dating.

"I guess the cat's out of the bag,” said Thornton. “I can't wait to see you and I can't wait to do some skating for you!" 

Thornton will swap singing for skates with professional Alexander Demetrio.

 

Didi Conn

Hollywood actress Didi Conn launched into the spotlight with her iconic performance as Frenchie in the legendary musical Grease and later went on to have a successful career in tv, film and theatre.

The actress is also a spokesperson for Autism Speaks, an advocacy organisation on autism.

"Boy oh boy, I'm going from being a Pink Lady to Queen of the Ice. I'm coming to the UK on Monday and I can't wait to see you!”

The “Queen of the Ice” will be accompanied by skating partner Lukasz Rozycki.

 

Saira Khan

A regular panelist on Loose Women, television presenter Saira Khan made her first television debut on the sports programme Grandstand and later appeared as a contestant on the BBC hit The Apprentice.

Khan has presented BBC One’s Breakfast and has become a regular voice on The Wright Stuff and Newsround.

Most recently Khan has appeared on Celebrity Masterchef and Celebrity Big Brother.

"I'm in it to win it!  I thought 'I'm too old, I can't do it, I'm going fall.' And my little boy said 'have you heard yourself Mum?' He shamed me into it. I'm doing this for my kids. Honestly I cannot skate. I've never been on ice skates."

Khan will take to the ice with skating partner Mark Hanretty.

Judging the celebrities on their skating skills will be World Champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, as well as Diversity’s Ashley Banjo and choreographer Jason Gardiner.

The 11^th series of Dancing on Ice will starts on ITV1 on Sunday 6th January at 6.00pm.