Strictly star and Olympic gold medalist is 'latest DOI signing'

Strictly star and Olympic gold medallist is ‘latest Dancing On Ice signing’… just months after shock injury derailed career

Olympian and Strictly star Greg Rutherford is reportedly next in line to be named in the upcoming Dancing On Ice cast. 

As names are released for the upcoming series, The Sun claims Rutherford, 36, will be sticking on his skates to compete on the ITV show. 

The latest role comes seven years after the retired track and field athlete appeared on Strictly. It also follows a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the 2022 Winter Olympics following his dreams of joining Britain’s bobsleigh team.

Insiders told the publication: ‘Greg was gutted after his Olympic dreams were derailed, but it basically freed up his calendar so when the Dancing On Ice offer came along, he decided to chat with bosses.

‘As an athlete, he loves having something to focus on and a project to train for, so this will give him something to channel his competitive spirit into…

He’s a winner! Olympian and Strictly star Greg Rutherford is reportedly next in line to be named in the upcoming Dancing On Ice cast

Dancing away: As names are released for the upcoming series, The Sun claims Greg, 36, will be sticking on his skates to compete on the ITV show

Woo! Greg holds an MBE, six gold medals and won Celebrity Masterchef

‘Ice skating is arguably more athletic than ballroom dancing, so Greg should really come into his own on the show. He’ll put the hours into training and be laser-focused on going all the way.’ 

Greg holds an MBE, six gold medals and won Celebrity Masterchef. 

The news comes hours after it was confirmed that Love Island star Amber Davies has become the latest contestant to sign up for Dancing On Ice. 

S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt was the third contestant announced the day before. 

They join soap sClaire Sweeney and World Champion Boxer Ricky Hatton MBE. 

Amber, who won Love Island in 2017 alongside Kem Cetinay, made the announcement on Lorraine on Friday. 

She said: ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them, I don’t want the adrenaline to get the better of me. 

Exciting: The news comes hours after it was confirmed that Love Island legend Amber Davies has become the latest contestant to sign up for Dancing On Ice

On screen: Amber won Love Island in 2017 alongside Kem Cetinay, who has also starred on the show 

‘I’m 27 next week and I was still asking them for permission. I’m going to have an amazing pro, who I don’t know yet.’

Amber is determined not to play it safe in the competition. 

She said: ‘I’d love to do that headbanger in week one if I can.

‘I will be wearing a helmet, kneepads and elbow pads until the first show.’

Of being offered the chance to join the line-up, the television personality said she was over the moon to be offered. 

She said: ‘I was surprised, I was elated when I got the call for Dancing On Ice, I hadn’t been on telly for so long and I thought that ship had potentially sailed.

‘When I spoke to the producers and said “why me?”, they said “because you’re doing so well in your industry”. I really did feel like my hard work is paying off.’ 

She’s excited! Amber strutted her stuff into the Lorraine show to make the announcement 

Get your skates on! Amber posed with her skating boots back in her dressing room 

Treading the boards: Since her stint in Love Island, Amber has reestablished herself as a West End star. She is currently starring in Pretty Woman 

Get your skates on: Amber’s ex Kem finished in fourth place with his partner Alex Murphy back in 2018

Since her stint in Love Island, Amber has reestablished herself as a West End star. 

She will be juggling Pretty Woman and Dancing On Ice at the same time. 

She said: ‘I’m doing Pretty Woman and Dancing On Ice basically at the same time… eight shows a week.

‘I’d been gunning for the role for so long, it came to the West End in 2019 and I’d gone in for it, but I was just so young Lorraine. Now I’m older and wiser, I never could have played that role at 22.’

Amber’s ex Kem has also starred in Dancing On Ice. He finished in fourth place with his partner Alex Murphy. 

Amber’s announcement comes after S Club star Hannah, 42 , revealed she was taking part on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain. 

She said: ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill.

‘It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing. Fitness is another reason why I’m doing it! It’s really exciting.’ 

Hannah’s decision to sing up comes after she unexpectedly left S Club in May, following the shocking death of her former boyfriend and bandmate Paul Cattermole.

Reach for the skates! S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt has been announced as the third star taking part in Dancing On Ice 2024

The remaining members of the group – Rachel Stevens, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh and Tina Barrett – decided to rename S Club 7 as merely S Club and continue as a five-piece. 

Speaking in a video posted on Instagram, Jon said: ‘You’ve probably noticed that there’s only five of us here today, and although Hannah will always be part of S Club 7, she won’t be joining us on this tour. We wish her all the best for the future.’ 

It has been reported that Hannah and the other members of the group are no longer on speaking terms amid insider claims that she was left feeling ‘betrayed’ by a row over contracts for the band’s upcoming tour. 

Hannah was reportedly unaware she was not being included on the tour until the post and had been about to sign her contract before being ‘blindsided’ by the launch. 

It is thought that Hannah has now signed a contract. But sources close to the star say that she felt ‘betrayed’ after being snubbed from the tour and they fear that the ‘bad blood’ between her and the group means there is ‘little to no chance’ of her making an appearance, according to The Sun.

The source added: ‘Hannah is devastated. She was pushed out, and doesn’t understand why. The rest of S Club has been told not to contact her.’

The insider claims that Hannah ‘very much wanted to be part of the tour’ but had ‘pushed back on a few details’ prior to signing her contract while the other band members ‘said yes to everything’ and signed immediately.

They add that she was then ‘binned’ after a series of disagreements with S Club creator Simon Fuller and that the rest of the band are now ‘not even speaking to her’.

Representatives for S Club have confirmed that Hannah has not spoken to the rest of the band.

On screen: Hannah revealed the news on Thursday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, saying ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill’

Moving on: Hannah’s decision to sing up comes after she unexpectedly left S Club in May. Front row: Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh and Rachel Stevens. Behind: Jo O’Meara and Tina Barrett 

Romance: Hannah was left heartbroken following the death of her bandmate and ex-boyfriend Paul Cattermole (pictured 2004)

Hannah’s addition to the Dancing On Ice lineup comes after Claire announced she’d signed up on Wednesday’s This Morning, saying: ‘I’m really looking forward to going to an ice rink with my son and actually being able to skate and not have to use the penguins they give you to help you stay upright!’

She added: ‘I’ve had to wear my boots around the house… I haven’t stepped on the ice yet.

‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’

Claire added: ‘I’m nervous and excited about doing it.’

When quizzed on her previous dance experience by Holly Willoughby and her co-host Ben Shephard, she said: ‘How does dancing prepare you for skating? It’s totally different.

‘It’s more about the mind and conquering the fear. You can make nice shapes with your arms and stuff like that but it’s about getting over the fear.’ 

The actress is best known as Lindsay Corkhill 90s soap Brookside before joining Corrie earlier this year in the role of Cassie Plumber. 

A source previously told The Sun: ‘Claire is going to be the first big name to be unveiled for Dancing On Ice’.

‘She is a really talented performer and is pretty decent on the ice already.’

No stranger to the spotlight Claire has previously sung and dance in string of musicals including Guys and Dolls and Legally Blonde.

It comes after Ricky, 44, revealed on This Morning: ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink. I like setting new challenges and keeping myself busy!’

The name of the first contestant had been teased throughout the show by hosts Holly Willoughby and Ben Shephard.

Ricky’s silhouette could be seen and a number of clues including boxing gloves were used to hint at his identity.

Exciting: Soap star Claire Sweeney was the second celebrity confirmed to be taking part in the next series of Dancing On Ice 

Revealing the news on Wednesday’s This Morning, Claire, 52, said: ‘I’m really looking forward to going to an ice rink with my son and actually being able to skate and not have to use the penguins they give you to help you stay upright!’

Throwback: She is best known as Lindsay Corkhill 90s soap Brookside (L-R Claire Sweeney, Dean Sullivan, Sue Jenkins, and George Christophe pictured on the soap in 1989) 

Actress: She joined the cast of Corrie earlier this year in the role of Cassie Plumber (pictured)

First Dancing On Ice star revealed: Sporting legend Ricky Hatton was confirmed to be taking part in the new series of the talent show on Tuesday

Doing what he does best: Ricky (L) in action against Carlos Maussa (R) during their unification light welterweight title fight at the Sheffield Arena November 26, 2005 in Sheffield

The sporting icon admitted his daughters are finding his latest signing ‘absolutlely hilarious’ but he said that he believes the show will be good for his well-being.

He said: ‘It was well documented that I struggled when I retired from boxing amongst a few other things and I’m trying to do my bit for mental health… I’ve never been shy to discuss it.’

‘When I retired I was sat there with nothing to do and my world fell apart a little bit. It’s all about keeping busy and doing things that are positive and new adventures!’

He also said: ‘I can dance on the solid floor but I don’t know how I’ll do on the dance floor. It’s more about being disciplined and about believing in yourself.

‘New adventures don’t come more than Dancing On Ice. It is a challenge and with boxing. it is a balance.

‘You remember dance sequencing and moves and in boxing, you do a little bit, remembering combinations and stuff like that. I should have the attributes to do pretty well.’

Gogglebox star Stephen Webb, 52, was reportedly set to join the line-up ‘in a bombshell move’.

He announced he was leaving the Channel 4 ‘s show earlier this month in a bid to p ursue ‘other opportunities’.

And according to The Sun it turned out the Brighton hair salon owner has traded ‘his sofa for skates’, as a source admitted several Gogglebox stars ‘face a dilemma at some point’ as they receive various offers after developing a higher profile.

The telly source told the publication: ‘Stephen had very much developed his own profile. It wasn’t a surprise he received other offers, though no one would have necessarily guessed he’d be doing Dancing On Ice.’

Stephen has been on the Channel 4’s show for a decade and was one of the most prominent stars – but he told fans earlier this month: ‘After careful consideration, Daniel and I have decided we will not be returning for the new series of Gogglebox.

‘We feel the time is right to move on and explore other opportunities.’

Shona McGarty has also been rumoured to be taking part, after she quit her role on EastEnders after 15 years.

The actress, 31, who played Whitney Dean on the BBC soap, quit her role in July after a reported cast shake up.

Former partnership: Holly Willoughby is set to return as host for the show, after after her former co-star Phillip Schofield was axed from the programme (pictured in January this year)

Holly Willoughby is set to return as host for the show, after after her former co-star Phillip Schofield was axed from the programme.

Phillip, 61, presented the series alongside Holly, 42, for 12 series, before and after its four-year hiatus, before he was axed from his ITV shows this year after he had an affair with a junior This Morning colleague.

Stephen Mulhern is reportedly being lined up to replace Phillip, and is said to have been offered the show and is thinking it over, according to the Mirror .

The Catchphrase star, 46, has already had a taste of hosting the figure skating competition after he was brought in to replace Phillip when he was struck down with Covid last February.

It was claimed Vernon Kay was also being considered for the role while Holly is also close to Bradley Walsh , while Jordan Banjo could be another option.

An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We will be confirming details about Dancing on Ice 2024 in due course.’

Dancing on Ice returns to ITV and ITVX in 2024 with a new cast. 

DANCING ON ICE: MEET THE 2024 CONTESTANTS

RICKY HATTON

AGE: 44

PROFESSION: Former pro boxer

WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink’

HANNAH SPEARRITT

AGE: 42

PROFESSION: SINGER

WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill. It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing’

CLAIRE SWEENEY

AGE: 52

PROFESSION: ACTRESS

WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’

AMBER DAVIES

AGE: 26

PROFESSION: WEST END STAR

WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them, I don’t want the adrenalin to get the better of me’

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