Mark Little has teased he’ll be "keeping an eye" on James Jordan on ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The former ‘Neighbours’ actor – who played Joe Mangel on the Australian soap from 1988 and 1991, with a brief return in 2005 – has just been confirmed as the eighth celebrity to take part in the skating show when it returns to screens next year.
And, although he’s convinced the former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional is a strong contender to win the show because of his performance background, Mark is adamant he’ll give the hunk a run for his money because it’s in his "Australian DNA."
Speaking on today’s (04.10.18) Build Series London, he said: "I’ll be keeping a little eye on him. It all depends on how much he’s skated. If he was an ice dancer, then I would think [differently]. I don’t know if it’s to do with my Australian DNA or something, but I’m in it to win it. I’ve got a competitive edge. And I think he’s the same. If he’s not skated before, he’ll know the dangers and it won’t be as easy for him.
"For me, it’s good, because it makes me think, ‘I’m really going to have to lift my game if I’m going to get ahead in this, because there’s a dancer in the mix’."
Despite his competitiveness, Mark knows he’ll be riddled with nerves when he hits the rink.
He explained: "I’m not a youngster. But it’s not about age, it’s about poise!
"I think it’s a real shame that we don’t do more of it – dancing – because it’s a good social… it’s really good for the soul. Everybody can dance. Bad dancing is still dancing!
"There’ll be performance anxiety, but it’s the reason I love this job – this fear factor of going out and performing and doing a good job with all of the work we’ve done and trying to make it as easy and gorgeous as possible. It’s going to be really exciting."
As well as James and Mark, Pussycat Dolls singer Melody Thornton, TOWIE’s Gemma Collins, Boyzone’s Brian McFadden, Loose Women’s Saira Khan, former ‘EastEnders’ star Richard Blackwood and cricketer Ryan Sidebottom have also been confirmed for the new series, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
‘Dancing on Ice’ will return to screens in January on ITV.
Mark Little teases James Jordan over Dancing on Ice
