Saira Khan was confirmed for Dancing on Ice during Loose Women on Tuesday as ex Strictly star James Jordan and Brian McFadden joined the new batch of celebrities.
The presenter, 48, will join Gemma Collins as she takes on the ice rink in the New Year for the ITV show which will be fronted by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
Initially turning down the opportunity over fears she was ‘too old’, the mother-of-two revealed her son Zachariah ‘shamed’ her into taking part on the show.
Dancing On Ice latest: Saira Khan, 48, admitted her fears she’s ‘too old’ to skate as she joined new batch of celebrities ex Strictly pro James Jordan and Brian McFadden on Tuesday
Saira discussed the opportunity on Loose Women: ‘They asked me to do it and I refused. I said, I’m too old and I’m going to fall and injure myself.
‘My little boy said, “have you heard yourself mum? negative”.
‘He shamed me into saying OK I’ll do it. He shamed me into it. So I’m doing this for my kids, I’m not doing it for the money. I can’t skate.’
News: Strictly Come Dancing’s James Jordan, 40, (left) and former Westlife singer Brian McFadden are the third and fourth contestants confirmed for Dancing On Ice
Got to do it: Initially turning down the opportunity over fears she was ‘too old’, the mother-of-two revealed her son Zachariah ‘shamed’ her into taking part on the show
Heated debate! Saira discussed the opportunity on Loose Women, ‘They asked me to do it and I refused. I said, I’m too old and I’m going to fall and injure myself’
James, 40 – who is married to Ola Jordan – is certainly expected to impress given his extensive dance training which saw join BBC’s Strictly in 2006 as a professional, before leaving the show in 2013.
James’ newest venture was announced on Tuesday morning during a live appearance on today’s BBC Radio Five Live Breakfast.
On joining the show, James enthused: ‘I can dance but I’m a lot older than I used to be. People are going to probably say I’ve got an unfair advantage but when I got on the ice I actually shocked myself how bad I was.
‘I want to be able to impress Torvill and Dean more than anyone else, but I’m a lot worse than I thought I’d be.’
‘He made me do it!’ She confessed, ‘He shamed me into saying OK I’ll do it. He shamed me into it. So I’m doing this for my kids, I’m not doing it for the money. I can’t skate.’
Exciting! The ex Strictly pro will take to the ice rink in the New Year for the popular ITV show which will once again be fronted by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield
Natural: James – who is married to Ola Jordan – is certainly expected to impress given his extensive dance training which saw join BBC’s Strictly in 2006 as a professional, before leaving the show in 2013
Brian, 38, was announced a little after James, in a pre recorded message on Lorraine.
On joining the show, Brian said ‘I’m very excited. I’ve already been practising out the back garden on my rollerblades and my mum says I’m a one man Torvill and Dean.’
The news comes a day after Gemma Collins and Richard Blackwood were the first stars confirmed for the next series.
The duo were unveiled during Monday’s episode of This Morning as they spoke about the new challenges they will face on the ITV skating show.
Admitting she is ‘scared and nervous’ about taking part in the challenge, Gemma added that one of her biggest fears is that her partner won’t be able to lift her.
James’ newest venture was announced on Tuesday morning during a live appearance on today’s BBC Radio Five Live Breakfast
‘People are going to say it’s an unfair advantage’: On joining the show, James enthused: ‘I can dance but I’m a lot older than I used to be’
She confessed: ‘I know how hard it is, I’ve done my research. I am scared and nervous, I don’t know how they’re gonna lift me up and how fast I can get around the ice… I really want to give this a go.’
Gemma also revealed she’s going to be giving it her all when she competes, saying: ‘I’ve asked the producers to let me come out to Crazy In Love by Beyonce. I’m really going for it!
‘I done my own show earlier this year and they want to do a Christmas special but I said they’ll have to film me on the ice rink!’
It’s official: This comes a day after Gemma Collins and Richard Blackwood were the first stars confirmed for the next series of Dancing On Ice
Speaking out: The duo were unveiled during Monday’s episode of This Morning as they spoke about the new challenges they will face on the ITV skating show
Apprehensive: Admitting she is ‘scared and nervous’ about taking part in the challenge, Gemma added that one of her biggest fears is that her partner won’t be able to lift her
Worries: She candidly admitted: ‘I know how hard it is, I’ve done my research. I am scared and nervous, I don’t know how they’re gonna lift me up.’
She added: ‘I heard you shape up on the show, I might come out with a dream body!’
As Richard insisted ‘You look good now!’ Gemma cut in: ‘I know, but I’ve been on holiday with Arg – he’s good – and we were saying we need to go on a diet!’
Revealing that she’s always dreamed of twirling around the ice, Gemma added: ‘As a young girl my brother used to play ice hockey so I was at the rink a lot.
‘I remember seeing some white boots in the shop and asking my mum to be a skater but she said “No, you’re doing dance and drama and singing, you’re not doing any more, we can’t afford it.” So I never got those white boots.’
Nerves: She added: ‘I heard you shape up on the show, I might come out with a dream body!’, to which Richard insisted ‘You look good now!’
Dream come true: Revealing that she’s always dreamed of twirling around the ice, Gemma added : ‘As a young girl my brother used to play ice hockey so I was at the rink a lot’
Childhood: She continued: ‘I remember seeing some white boots in the shop and asking my mum to be a skater but she said “No, you’re doing dance and drama and singing!’
TV stardom: Gemma has been on several reality shows in the past, including Celebrity Big Brother, I’m A Celebrity, Celebrity MasterChef and Celebs Go Dating – to name a few
Whilst Gemma is a novice, Richard admitted he’s got a lot of skating experience.
He revealed: ‘I grew up in Sweden so I used to skate out there. Frozen lakes, on the way to school and stuff, a lot of people don’t know that’
And despite Gemma quipping: ‘Now I’m about to pull out of the show’, Richard revealed he’s not feeling overly-confident.
‘I can skate but I normally dance on dry land,’ he said, ‘dancing and skating are two different things. I can move, I can shake my stuff.’
A host of famous faces, including Jane Danson, Emma Atkins, and Brian McFadden, have been rumoured for the show but Phillip Schofield – who hosts Dancing On Ice with Holly Willoughby- ruled out one name.
Reading out a list of rumoured hopefuls, he commented: ‘Rylan Clark-Neal – Rylan will never do it, he can skate but he’s always said he’ll never do it.’
Ready to hit the ice: Whilst Gemma is a novice, Richard admitted he’s got a lot of skating experience. He revealed: ‘I grew up in Sweden so I used to skate out there’