John Barrowman has been confirmed as a new addition to the Dancing On Ice judging panel.
The Scottish-American entertainer has had a real career resurgence since his appearance on last year’s I’m A Celebrity, guest hosting This Morning with comedian Emily Atack and fronting the second of ITV’s All Star Musicals specials.
It’s now been confirmed that he will be joining the Dancing On Ice team when the show returns to our screens in January 2020, replacing outgoing judge Jason Gardiner.
John was previously a contestant on the very first run of Dancing On Ice back in 2006, finishing in seventh place.
He said: “I am so excited to be returning to the Dancing On Ice family. Unlike most I have been through the rigorous task of skating live as a contestant in the first series.
“This is a thrilling adventure for me and I hope to bring a fresh, fun and fab-u-lous angle to the judging panel.”
It was first reported that Jason would not be returning to the Ice Panel back in August, when The Sun published a story with quotes from an “ITV source”, suggesting that producers were looking to replace Jason as they feared that some contestants might “have a cause for complaint” due to his acerbic putdowns.
Two weeks later, Jason confirmed that he would not be back for next year’s series, but claimed it was his decision to leave so he could focus on other projects and “return to things I have kind of put on the back burner for a while”.
He told his Instagram followers: “I’ve been an original judge since 2006. I’ve done every series except one, when I was replaced by my good friend and dance sister Louie Spence in 2012.
“The show had been off air for four years and when it was revived I was the only original judge to return. The past two series have seen new additions to the panel with the brilliant Ashley Banjo and the legends, Torvill and Dean. I have absolutely loved sharing the panel with them.
“After all these years I feel it’s time for me to say goodbye to my judging role.”
ITV has also confirmed that Ashley Banjo and skating duo Torvill and Dean will be returning to the show in 2020.
Last year’s series was won by former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan, but much of the headlines around the show centred around Gemma Collins, who was involved in a feud with Jason for much of her time on Dancing On Ice.