Jane McDonald is reportedly due to fill Phillip Schofield's shoes on Dancing on Ice after he announced he was leaving ITV last month. The singer and former Loose Women panellist is said to be the "favourite" to replace Phil, 61, after doing an incredible job at presenting the British Soap Awards in his place earlier this month.
Phil left ITV after his job as a This Morning presenter became shrouded in controversy and speculation regarding his "cooled" friendship with co-star Holly Willoughby mounted. After stepping down from his roles with the broadcaster, Phil admitted to having an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a much younger ITV colleague, something which Holly claimed he denied when she asked about it when reports first surfaced.
If Jane takes on Phil's Dancing On Ice role, she will be joining Holly rinkside as sources claim that she is keen to remain on the Sunday night winter fixture. A source told The Mirror: "Jane is now the favourite to replace Phillip on Dancing on Ice when it returns next year.
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"She did a great job hosting the Soap Awards earlier this month and the bosses are keen to sign her up. She had people in stitches – and they love how frank she is, while also being very warm."
In addition to her 10 years as a Loose Women panellist from 2004 until 2014, Jane is known for the several travel shows she's presented and made her Celebrity Gogglebox debut on Friday night (June 16). Despite reports of the BBC eyeing up Holly, it looks like Holly has no plans to leave Dancing On Ice soon.
An insider told The Mirror: "We are very much expecting Holly to be back. She has not indicated she might step away."
Meanwhile, a source at ITV said that reports about Jane replacing Phil were just "speculation", and that the line-up for Dancing On Ice 2024 would not be confirmed "until later in the year". Phil joined Dancing On Ice for its first series back in 2006, presenting alongside Holly until 2011, when she was replaced by Christine Bleakley.
In 2014, it was announced Dancing On Ice would be ending following that year's series. Phil returned in 2018 when it was revealed the ITV show would be making a comeback after four years away.
With regards to his future, Phil said of his TV career in a recent interview: "I have to talk about television in the past tense, which breaks my heart.
"I have lost everything. If I get through this I don't know how I move forward. What am I going to do with my days?"
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