Jason Gardiner confirmed as final Dancing On Ice judge

He was known for his cutting remarks on the original Dancing On Ice judging panel from 2006 to 2014.

And Jason Gardiner is set to reprise his role on the ITV ice-skating competition when the show returns in 2018.

The Australian choreographer, 45, will join Diversity dance troupe founder Ashley Banjo in the new line-up as well as skating pros Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

 

Get your skates on: Jason Gardiner is set to reprise his role on Dancing On Ice when the show returns in 2018

The big reveal was made on Wednesday’s episode of Lorraine and marked Jason’s first TV interview in four years.

Chatting to stand-in host Christine Bleakley about his blunt style of judging, Jason said: ‘I’m honest! When they’re good, I give them great praise and I help them improve a lot.’

‘It is quite difficult to be a good judge on the show and remain impartial.’

Though the celebrity line-up hasn’t yet been revealed, Jason has promised not to go into the show with any preconceptions.

Line-up: Dancing On Ice will see Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean serving as judges rather than coaches

The old line-up: Robin Cousins, Karen Barber, Ashley Roberts and Jason (from left to right) proved a popular combination with viewers at home 

Guess who? Jason kept viewers guessing right until the last minute when he made his big announcement on Wednesday’s episode of Lorraine 

He’s back! The announcement marked Jason’s first TV interview in four years

Straight-talking: Chatting to stand-in host Christine Bleakley about his blunt style of judging, Jason said: ‘I’m honest! When they’re good, I give them great praise and I help them improve’

He said: ‘I’m not going in with preconceived ideas of how I’m going to be, you have to be there and assess it int hat moment, it’s only fair to the contestants to go in there being open. being a judge isn’t necessarily who I am but it’s a role I’ve got to do to get my point across.’   

Despite being hard on the contestants, Jason thinks they should be applauded just for agreeing to take part because it’s such a tough competition.

‘We have seen some remarkable people come through Dancing On Ice. To see that journey is wonderful. We’ve had some fun moments!’, he enthused. 

In a change to the format, Torvill and Dean – who previously mentored the contestants – will sit on the judging panel and Jason can’t wait to see how the ‘skating royalty’ take to their new roles.

This comes after reports that Jake Quickenden, 29, has allegedly signed up Dancing On Ice.

The Sun have claimed the show’s bosses roped in Jake in a bid to bring some ‘eye-candy’ to the series. 

Back in the day: He was known for his cutting remarks on the original Dancing On Ice judging panel from 2006 to 2014 (left) 

Speaking of Jake’s reported new venture, it was claimed by the publication: ‘Jake was a massive hit with the ladies during his stints on The X Factor and I’m A Celeb.

‘Producers want him to bring the eye-candy to ­Dancing On Ice too. He hasn’t got any skating experience but is already super-confident.

‘He’s fearless and they feel they’ll be able to push him week after week,’ it was concluded. 

That’s ice of him! Jake Quickenden, 29, has reportedly signed up Dancing On Ice in a bid from TV bosses to provide some ‘eye-candy’ for viewers

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jake for further comment. 

Dancing on Ice will see Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby both back to front it, six years after they last co-hosted the programme and three years since it was last on the air.

The show is hoping to refresh its image since it was axed in 2014 having pulled in 13 million viewers in its heyday.

Viewing figures plummeted to less than half that (five million) as time went on, with Holly leaving and being replaced with Christine Lampard.

They’re back: Dancing on Ice will see Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby both back to front it six years after they last co-hosted it and three years since it was last on the air – Pictured 2010

 

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