Keith Chegwin gets his skates on for Dancing On Ice... as Jason Gardiner confirms his return to the judges' panel
By EMILY SHERIDAN and ALASDAIR GLENNIE
|
He was forced to quit the last series of Dancing On Ice after breaking his ribs during training.
However, Keith Chegwin has bravely decided to get back on the ice as he was spotted training for the new series.
The TV presenter, 55, was spotted being put through his paces by DOI's head coach Karen Barber and Russian skater Olga Sharutenko at Basingstoke ice rink this week.
Back on the ice: Keith Chegwin skates with Russian ice dancer Olga Sharutenko at Basingstoke Ice Rink
It certainly confirms speculation he will be one of the celebrity contestants on the new series in January, although ITV never announce the line-up until much nearer the time.
Meanwhile, the Dancing On Ice judging panel is set for another shake-up with the news it's former Mr Nasty is returning.
Jason Gardiner confirmed on Wednesday he has returned to the panel after a one series hiatus came after fellow choreographer Louie Spence revealed he wasn't coming back to Dancing On Ice.
The Australian wrote on Twitter: 'It's been hard to keep this quiet until it was official but YES Tweeps I'm back on @DOI. Thanks to all who have supported me all the way xx.'
Cheer up: Head coach Karen Barber doesn't look happy as she talks to Keith and Olga
Easy does it: Hopefully Keith won't injure himself like last year after he was forced to withdraw
He told the MailOnline: 'I was on holiday in Ibiza when I got a phone call from ITV. They said "How would you feel about possibly coming back on Dancing on Ice?" It does feel right to be back. I feel quite excited now. It is just wonderful to be back on the show.
Mr Nasty is back: Jason Gardiner is returning to the panel
'I am there to give my critique, I am there in my expert capacity. I add that little bit of spice to the celebrities and I challenge them so they do become great. There is a method in my meanness. I don’t patronise anybody.'
Meanwhile, former Pineapple Studios star Louie told ITV's This Morning: 'I thought I was pretty fabulous myself but, no, I've been kicked to the kerb. That's showbusiness. One day you're in, one day you're out.
'Dancing On Ice always change up their panel. I think it's a great idea because then they've always got different opinions. If you watch some of these shows, judges always repeat the same things year in, year out. I think having the change up is great.'
Dancing On Ice's panel has gone through a lot of changes in its seven-year history.
The original panel included Karen Barber, Jason Gardiner, Nicky Slater, Robin Cousins and Karen Kresge.
Kresge was replaced as the fifth judge in Series 2 by Natalia Bestemianova, Series 3 and 4 by Ruthie Henshall and ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton in Series 5 and 6.
However, last year the panel was greatly reduced with only Robin Cousins as the only original judge, joined by Katarina Witt and Spence.
Controversially, Karen was removed from the ice panel after 2010 and now works as the head coach.
She famously clashed with Jason last year when the latter told her: 'If your opinion still mattered, you'd be on the panel.'
All change... again: Louie Spence and Katarina Witt are leaving the show in favour of Jason and another mystery female
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2239802/Keith-Chegwin-gets-skates-Dancing-On-Ice--Jason-Gardiner-confirms-return-judges-panel.html#ixzz2DYC7lVs5
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook