Jake Quickenden has signed up to the forthcoming series of ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The 29-year-old singer feels "so lucky" to become the fourth celebrity to jump on board the reboot of the skating show, which is expected to hit screens early next year, but has admitted he really struggled with his first training session and actually looked like he’d been knocking back the booze the night before because he was so wobbly.
Speaking on ‘Lorraine’ on Wednesday (01.11.17), he said: "I had my first training session yesterday. It was freezing – I went in a t-shirt so ice is cold, especially when you’re laying on it for 10 minutes. I was freezing but it was amazing.
"The coach was amazing because I went there and I think he thought I was on the booze the night before because I was all over the place. Then I settled down and it was great. I just feel lucky that I’ve been asked to do it. I’m so buzzing."
However, the hunk is well aware of the fact that he’ll be asked to do some frightening lifts during his routines because he’s so "big" but he’s concerned that he’ll either drop his partner, whose identity is not yet known, or kick her in the face with his blades.
He explained: "I’m more worried about injuring my partner because the last thing I want to do is kick anyone in the face with skates on. Or drop anyone because I’m quite big and I know I’m going to be asked to do lifts and stuff so I’m quite nervous about that."
Jake is used to being slapped with criticism as he took part in ‘The X Factor’ in 2012 and then again in 2014, but he’s terrified of the acid-tongue judge Jason Gardiner.
He said: "I’m more nervous about Jason. I’ve met him before he was lovely but I wasn’t ice skating in front of him. I’m used to the criticism from ‘X Factor’."
Bosses of the skating show have kept details of the forthcoming series under wraps, but, so far, it’s known that Love Island’s Kem Cetinay, Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent and Bucks Fizz’s Cheryl Baker will be going head-to-head with Jake.
More celebrities will be announced in due course but, for now, it’s been confirmed that Jason has reclaimed his position on the judging panel alongside Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean – who previously mentored the contestants but have now switched positions – and Diversity dancer Ashley Banjo.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will return as hosts.
Jake Quickenden signs up to Dancing on Ice
