Holly Willoughby may soon be swapping rinkside for the ice as she appeared to 'agree' to be a contestant on Dancing on Ice. The TV star has hosted the show alongside Phillip Schofield since it began in 2006 and when it returned after a four year break in 2018.
The brand new series will kick of on Sunday (January 15) with the duo back at the helm and Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Otia Mabuse and Ashley Banjo on the expert ice panel. And there are eleven new famous faces who will be lacing up their skates for the ITV skating show.
Among those taking part in Dancing On Ice 2023 are EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer, footballer John Fashanu, Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu, Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson, and Coronation Street star Mollie Gallagher. Completing the grand-new line-up are drag queen The Vivienne, TV personality Joey Essex, comedian Darren Harriott, West End star Carley Stenson, singer Michelle Heaton and The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran.
But when chatting to actress and DJ Patsy on This Morning on Thursday (January 12), where she was joined on the famous sofa by her skate partner Matt Evers, her words appeared to have an impact on Holly. She opened up about the ‘meditative’ state she goes into while performing her routine.
Comparing the experience to her stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, the 50-year-old, who is known for playing Bianca Jackson in EastEnders, said: "I did Strictly. This is nothing like it. It’s different, because you really do have to focus. It’s dangerous. You can’t have anything else in your mind. Your mind has to be clear. You have to be so far in the present moment, that it is like a form of meditation. So I’m so glad that I’ve been practising meditation."
It was then that mum-of-three Holly appeared intrigued by the prospect of appearing on the show herself. "That's the first time anyone’s said anything about Dancing On Ice that’s made me want to do it. Because normally I’m scared of it," she admitted, as Phillip, appeared stunned by his friend and co-star's change of heart.
"Go on then!’ Phillip, 60, urged as Holly laughed, before saying: "No." Matt, who’s competed on every series of Dancing On Ice since 2006, then Holly: "I’ve been waiting for you," before adding: "I've been waiting 15 years."
Phillip, meanwhile, also appeared up for swapping presenting duties to compete after getting a taste of the skating when hosting the show with Christine Lampard. "When you [Holly] were off doing other stuff and I was doing the series with Christine, that was when they finally said we'd like you to skate having banned us from skating because it was 'too dangerous,'" Phillip said.
"I went on, we learnt the routine, did the whole thing, came out live on the show, skated... It was amazing. And I thought, 'Oh my God, that was brilliant. That was so brilliant.' The wind in my hair... Then I watched it back and I couldn't have been going more slowly. It was so slow and I thought, I'm never doing it again."
But when Patsy questioned him on how he felt, he said it was a case of 'relief' but did admit that he 'loved it'. It comes after Patsy finally agreed to do the show after five years of being asked. "Oh it’s terrifying," she said about previously turning the show down. "I just thought is there any point in going on a show and potentially getting injured."
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