Lemar is set to join ‘Dancing On Ice’ after Monty Panesar was forced to pull out due to a broken ankle.
The former England cricketer was due to take part in the reboot of the ITV celebrity ice skating competition, but after crashing onto the ice during training and breaking his ankle, he has been forced to end his time on the show before it even begins airing.
However, all is not lost for the producers of the show, as they have managed to recruit 39-year-old singer Lemar to take his place, who had been training as a reserve.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Monty suffered a nasty fall during training and has badly injured his ankle. It’s a quite serious fracture and he’s out of the competition.
"He’s been told there’s no way he can be part of the new series, which he’s absolutely devastated about.
"He couldn’t wait to try a new sport and concentrate on something new in 2018 after retiring from his cricketing career.
"Lemar was obviously gutted to hear about Monty’s accident but is thrilled to have got the call up to the show. He’s been putting in plenty of hours of training."
And an ITV spokesperson has confirmed Monty’s exit from the series, though they didn’t mention his replacement.
They said: "Owing to an injury sustained in training, Monty has had to withdraw from the competition."
Lemar will join the likes of ‘Coronation Street’ stars Antony Cotton and Brooke Vincent, track and field athlete Perri Shakes-Drayton, rugby hunk Max Evans, Jake Quickenden, Love Island’s Kem Cetinay, Great British Bake Off’s Candice Brown and Bucks Fizz’s Cheryl Baker.
Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Jason Gardiner are set to judge whilst Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will host.
Lemar replaces Monty Panesar in Dancing on Ice
