Ashley Banjo thinks he’ll "clash" with Jason Gardiner on ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The Diversity dancer has confirmed he’s joined the skating show’s judging panel when the reboot hits screens early next year, but he’s adamant he won’t let the acid-tongue choreographer "bully" him and is convinced they’ll rub each other up the wrong way.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "I can imagine us clashing. Do I look like I can be bullied? No chance. I’m going to have to start thinking of witty one-liners. Jason is very good at that. He is the king of the one-liners, let’s hope he’s not lost it."
The 29-year-old hunk will be joined on the panel by Jason and Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean – who previously mentored the contestants but have now switched positions – and, although he’s not an experienced skater, he thinks he’s more than qualified for the job because he’s made a living out of making up choreography.
He explained: "I’m not an expert in skating but it is all about choreography, stage direction and music. That is what I do for a living."
Jason recently admitted he was delighted to be rejoining the panel and vowed to be as "honest" as ever because he thinks his blunt comments are a great motivator.
He said: "I’m honest, I always call it as i see it but when they’re good, I give them great praise and I think I help them to improve a lot.
"It’s one of the hardest and the commitment is intense so let’s not discount what they have to go through. we have seen some remarkable people pass through ‘Dancing on Ice’ and to see that journey is wonderful. And also the Todd Cartys, who have gone through the tunnel and disappeared into oblivion, but it’s an exciting show to do."
The celebrity line-up is to be released over the next few weeks but, so far, it’s been confirmed that Jake Quickenden, Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent, Bucks Fizz’s Cheryl Baker and Love Island’s Kem Cetinay will be going head-to-head on the rink.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will return as hosts.
Ashley Banjo will ‘clash’ with Jason Gardiner on Dancing on Ice
