Monty Panesar is "looking forward" to trying a different sport after signing up to ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The 35-year-old cricketer has become the seventh celebrity to sign up to the skating show reboot, which is expected to hit screens early next year, and he can’t wait to get stuck into training because he’s hoping it’ll keep him fit and give him a passion for a new activity.
He said: "This is a great opportunity to keep myself fit and motivated and try a different sport. I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be very exciting."
Monty – who was sacked from the Brighton cricket team four years ago when he urinated on bouncers during a boozy night on the town in Sussex – took a little bit of persuasion to sign up to the dangerous winter show, but bosses are no doubt thrilled with their success as he’s previously turned down the likes of ‘The Jump’ and ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ in the past.
His signing comes after a turbulent few years in the public eye as he’s openly battled with a mental illness and watched his marriage crumble before his eyes in 2013.
Monty – whose full name is Mudhsuden Singh Panesar – will go head-to-head Great British Bake Off’s Candice Brown, rugby hunk Max Evans, Love Island’s Kem Cetinay, Jake Quickenden, Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent and Bucks Fizz’s Cheryl Baker on the ice.
More celebrities will be announced in due course but, for now, it’s been confirmed that acid-tongue Australian Jason Gardiner 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.
Monty Panesar joins Dancing on Ice
