Kimberly Wyatt and Connor Ball complete the Dancing On Ice 2022 lineup as they’re confirmed as the eleventh and twelfth celebrities to join the show.
Speaking to fellow Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts on Heart Radio on Tuesday, Kimberly, 39, gushed: ‘I have signed up for Dancing on Ice! I’m nervous, that ice is going to hit hard.’
She added: ‘I’m just excited to see what I can do on there. I’m up for a challenge!’
Kimberly Wyatt and Connor Ball are the the eleventh and twelfth celebrities confirmed to join the Dancing On Ice 2022 lineup.
Meanwhile, The Vamps star Connor, 25, told Capital Breakfast hosts Roman Kemp, Sian Welby and current Dancing On Ice champion Sonny Jay: ‘I’m excited obviously but I’m really nervous.’
He continued: ‘I’m quite clumsy, accident prone. Ice is hard!’
On keeping his addition to the line-up secret, he added: ‘It was pretty hard to keep the secret. The rest of the band know. They’re super excited for me.’
Kimberly and Connor join a stellar lineup of previously announced celebrities.
Taking to the rink: Speaking to fellow Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, Kimberly, 39, gushed: ‘I have signed up for Dancing on Ice!’ (pictured performing with The Pussycat Dolls in 2009)
Taking part are: Coronation Street legend Sally Dynevor, Happy Mondays dancer Bez, Paralympian Stef Reid, Love Island’s Liberty Poole, rugby star Ben Foden, Paul Gascoigne’s son, Regan Gascoigne, pop star Rachel Stevens, professional dancer Brendan Cole, presenter Ria Hebden and BMX Olympic silver medallist Kye Whyte.
On Friday, Lorraine presenter Ria Hebden was the tenth celebrity revealed to be taking part in the 2022 series of the hit show.
Ria, 38, gushed she jumped at the chance to take part when she was approached by bosses after vowing to ‘say yes to things that excite her.’
She added that she used to enjoy skating at Bradford Ice Rink when she was a child, but hasn’t taken to the ice in six years.
Here she is! On Friday, Lorraine presenter Ria Hebden was the tenth celebrity revealed to be taking part in the 2022 series of the hit show
Hitting the rink: The actress, who regularly hosts entertainment segments on the daytime show, gushed she jumped at the chance to take part when she was approached by bosses
Ria’s involvement was aptly announced during Friday’s Lorraine, with the presenter saying: ‘It’ll be fun. This is one of ITV’s most sparkly shows so when they asked me I was like absolutely, we watch it at home. It will be brilliant to learn a new scary skill.’
‘You’ve got to say yes to things that excite you, that are a little bit scary because that’s when the growth happens – I’m hoping so anyway!’
‘I’m going to go on this journey and hopefully inspire mums, dads and everyone to give things a go.’
Asked if she’d ever skated before, Ria added: ‘I went when I was 10 years old with my grandma and grandad to – and people in Yorkshire will remember – Bradford Ice Rink. I skated there.
‘If I’m honest the last time I went on the ice was about six years ago with Noah [her son] and I did more drinking of mulled wine than skating!’
Last week MailOnline exclusively revealed that former Strictly Come Dancing pro Brendan Cole had signed up for the show, as he hopes to emulate the success of former champion James Jordan.
Coming soon: Last week MailOnline exclusively revealed that former Strictly Come Dancing pro Brendan Cole had signed up for the show
A source told MailOnline: ‘Brendan is extremely competitive. He wants to go all the way and win Dancing On Ice.
‘Dancing is his profession so, he already has a lifetime of experience, but he’s a novice when it comes to performing on an ice rink.’
On Wednesday Brendan appeared on Loose Women to discuss his involvement in the show, admitting that he struggled with a ‘wobbly’ first attempt at skating.
He said: ‘I’ve had one go. I’m a fairly confident person and I like to think I’m going to be good at what I put my hand to or my feet to! I was thinking okay I’m going to be fine, I’m going to be out there and I was terrible.
‘I was a bit wobbly. You can expect to be a bit wobbly on ice but I was hoping I was going to be better than I was.
‘I’ve got time to learn. I’m just going to embrace the whole experience and I’m very excited to get started.’
Concerns: On Wednesday Brendan appeared on Loose Women to discuss his involvement in the show, admitting that he struggled with a ‘wobbly’ first attempt at skating
Regardless of this, he added: ‘I’m so, so excited. It’s been a while coming now. I’ve known I’d be doing the show for quite some time and I want to get started, I’m so excited to be on the show.
‘To be off the stage for such a long time now. I think March last year I finished my theatre production and all the lockdowns happened. To be back on a big stage – and this is a very big, very cold stage – I cannot tell you how excited I am.
‘It means a lot to us in the entertainment industry to have these opportunities and I’m going to take it with both skates!’
It came after Rachel Stevens, Liberty Poole and Ben Foden were announced to be joining the line-up earlier this month.
Joining Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning to reveal the news, Rachel, 43, said: ‘It now feels really real, this is really happening. I’m so excited, obviously really nervous.’
Exciting: It came after Rachel Stevens WAS announced to be joining the line-up earlier this month
She added: ‘It’s one of those things, until you do it you don’t know what’s going to happen.’
On whether she has skated before, Rachel added: ‘Only with the Penguin with my kids you know every Christmas. I did it when I was 10 (years old) and dabbled in it for a little bit and I really loved it but I’m very wobbly.’
On why she chose to take part, Rachel said, ‘The opportunity came up and I thought what an amazing opportunity to learn a new skill.
‘I love the whole idea of working with a team and your partner and also for my girls to be a part of this. They are at an age now where they love all the costumes.’
From the villa to the rink: The S Club 7 singer joins Love Island’s Liberty Poole, who will put her skates on after being announced as one of the celebrities taking part
Meanwhile Liberty, 22, – who shot to fame in this summer’s series of the ITV2 dating show – said: ‘I grew up watching Dancing On Ice and my mum actually used to be a figure skater.
‘I ice skate as a hobby sometimes so I can get around the rink but I can’t do any tricks, no pirouetting or anything so I’m really looking forward to pushing myself and learning as much as I possibly can.
‘Not just skating around the ice but actually dancing on ice. Bring it on!’
Meanwhile Rugby player Ben, 36, is also keen to learn a ‘new skill’ by taking part in the show.
Get your skates on: Rugby player Ben Foden, 36, will try his hand as ice-skating as his name was also recently announced
He said: ‘I used to skate a little when I was a kid. I’d go to ice discos when I was 15, 16 and you’d always see these kids that could do pirouettes that had a proper dancing background.
‘I like the idea of learning a new sport and a new skill.
‘I’m quite competitive as well so I like the challenge of competing against others doing something that I’m not necessarily good at.’
It comes two years after Ben competed in The X Factor: Celebrity in band Try Star.
Singer and dancer Regan Gascoigne, 25, will fulfil a lifelong dream when he takes to the ice next year.
Exciting: Singer and dancer Regan Gascoigne, 25, will fulfil a lifelong dream when he takes to the ice next year
He said: ‘Obviously I dance and love dancing but it’s the skill of this. I’ve always wanted to do it. Always! Ever since I was a kid!’
Meanwhile, Paralympic medalist Stef was the third celebrity confirmed for the 2022 Dancing On Ice line-up.
The Team GB track and field athlete, 36, joins Coronation Street’s Sally Dynevor and Bez from the Happy Mondays.
In an exclusive message on Good Morning Britain, Stef said: ‘I have some really exciting news.
Taking to the rink: Paralympic medalist Stef Reid is also confirmed for Dancing On Ice, which begins in January 2020
Inspirational: Stef’s incredible athletic career has seen her win bronze in the sprint (2008) and silver in the long jump (2012) in the Paralympic Games (pictured in 2021)
‘I’m going to be picking up a new sport this winter and it comes with a little bit of showbiz.
‘I’m going to be a contestant on Dancing on Ice and it’s a little bit scary but I cannot wait!’
Stef’s incredible athletic career has seen her win bronze in the sprint (2008) and silver in the long jump (2012) in the Paralympic Games at Beijing and London, after losing her right foot in a boating accident aged 15.
She was also a semi-finalist on Celebrity MasterChef 2018.
Stef’s addition to the Dancing On Ice line-up comes after it was announced on Lorraine that Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, 58, would be swapping the cobbles for the ice rink.
Exciting: Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, 58, was the first celebrity to be confirmed for Dancing On Ice 2022
The soap star, who plays Sally Webster and is the mother of Bridgerton actress Phoebe Dynevor, admitted: ‘I’m so scared! Now everyone knows I’m doing it I can’t back out can I?!’
Asked if she’s skated before, Sally said: ‘No never! I went with Hattie [her daughter] when she was little and I had a penguin and then thought this is too hard so I’ll go and get a coffee!’
She went on to say: ‘This is a massive challenge, Lorraine. It really, really is. I’m not getting any younger, I’ve just got to take every opportunity I get so that when I’m old I can say you know what? I gave it a go.’
Meanwhile, Happy Mondays star Bez, 57, announced he will take part in the upcoming series during a surprise appearance on This Morning.
No turning back: Sally, who is the mother of Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor (pictured) added: ‘Now everyone knows I’m doing it I can’t back out can I?!’
ITV confirmed in September that John Barrowman, 54, has been axed from the series, five months after he apologised for exposing himself on the set of other TV shows in historic incidents.
The entertainer, who joined DOI last year and appeared on two seasons, previously admitted to ‘tomfoolery’ on the sets of Doctor Who, where he began playing Captain Jack Harkness in 2005 and spin-off series Torchwood a year later.
A source told The Sun: ‘This will be devastating for him. Clearly ITV feel it’s not a good look to have someone like John centre-stage on a family-friendly show.’
John will no longer appear on Dancing On Ice but continues working for ITV as host of All Star Musicals, an ITV spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline.
Woo! Meanwhile, Happy Mondays star Bez, 57, announced he will take part in the upcoming series during a surprise appearance on This Morning
An ITV representative said: ‘We thank John Barrowman for two brilliant years on the Dancing on Ice panel and are pleased to be working with him again as host of the forthcoming All Star Musicals specials.’
John’s team said: ‘John is thrilled to be returning to work for ITV as host on the new All Star Musicals,’ but declined to comment on his departure from the skating show.
No charges were brought against the media personality after allegations about him exposing himself on the set of Doctor Who were revealed in May.
John said his behaviour on set was to ‘defuse awkwardness’ whenever he was filming a sex scene in Torchwood but later conceded the act was ‘juvenile’.
No more: ITV confirmed John Barrowman, 54, has been axed from the series, five months after he apologised for exposing himself on the set of other TV shows in historic incidents (pictured in January 2021)
Dancing On Ice 2022: Who are the celebrities?
KYE WHYTE
Age: 22
Profession: Olympics BMX rider
Kye says: ‘I’d love to see if I can make the final because I’m very competitive.’
RACHEL STEVENS
Age: 43
Profession: Singer
Rachel says: ‘It now feels really real, this is really happening. I’m so excited, obviously really nervous.’
LIBERTY POOLE
Age: 22
Profession: Love Island star
Liberty says: ‘I ice skate as a hobby sometimes so I can get around the rink but I can’t do any tricks’
STEF REID
Age: 36
Profession: Paralympian
Stef says: ‘I’m going to be a contestant on Dancing on Ice and it’s a little bit scary but I cannot wait!’
REGAN GASCOIGNE
Age: 26
Profession: Singer
Regan says: ‘I love dancing but it’s the skill of this. I’ve always wanted to do it. Always! Ever since I was a kid!’
KIMBERLY WYATT
Age: 39
Profession: Pussycat Dolls singer
Kimberly says: ‘I’m just excited to see what I can do on there. I’m up for a challenge!’
BRENDAN COLE
Age: 45
Profession: Dancer
Brendan says: ‘I’ve known I’d be doing the show for quite some time and I want to get started, I’m so excited to be on the show.’
BEN FODEN
Age: 36
Profession: Rugby player
Ben says: ‘I like the idea of learning a new sport and a new skill. I’m quite competitive as well.’
SALLY DYNEVOR
Age: 58
Profession: Coronation Street actress
Sally says: ‘This is a massive challenge. I’m so scared! I’ve just got to take every opportunity I get.’
BEZ
Age: 57
Profession: Happy Mondays
Bez says: ‘I’m always up for a challenge and am already in training on the ice.’
RIA HEBDEN
Age: 36
Profession: Presenter
Ria says: ‘It will be brilliant to learn a new scary skill.’
CONNOR BALL
Age: 25
Profession: The Vamps bassist
Connor says: ‘I’m excited obviously but I’m really nervous. I’m quite clumsy, accident prone.’