Dancing on Ice's first 2024 contestant announced as champion British boxer

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Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice's first 2024 contestant announced as champion British boxer

British former professional boxer Ricky Hatton has been announced as Dancing On Ice's first contestant for the new 2024 series.

The name of the first contestant was teased throughout This Morning on Tuesday by hosts Holly Willoughby and Ben Shephard. Ricky's outline could be seen and a number of clues including boxing gloves were used to hint at his identity.

Ricky admitted his daughters found the news he'd signed up to Dancing on Ice "absolutely hilarious". He added: ”I like setting new challenges for myself. It was well documented that I struggled when I retired from boxing amongst a few other things and I'm trying to do my bit for mental health. When I retired I was sat there with nothing to do and my world fell apart a little bit. It's all about keeping busy and doing things that are positive and new adventures!"

Dancing on Ice's first 2024 contestant announced as champion British boxer qhidqxirdiqddinvRicky Hatton was announced as the first contestant on This Morning (ITV)

Ricky admitted he isn't "much of a skater or a dancer" but, "being a boxer is all about balance" which he feels will help him when it comes to training. The former boxing champion confessed he thinks they'll be a few "speed bumps" and "scary moments" before adding: "If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink."

There have been a number of big names rumoured to be taking part in next year's series including a Coronation Street star, former Gogglebox stalwart and nineties pop sensation. Claire Sweeney, who was best known as Lindsay Corkhill 90s soap Brookside before joining Coronation Street earlier this year in the role of Cassie Plumber.

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A source told The Sun: "Claire is going to be the first big name to be unveiled for Dancing On Ice. She is a really talented performer and is pretty decent on the ice already."

Former S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt is reportedly another celebrity set to sign up for next year's ice skating competition, Dancing On Ice. She will be following in the footsteps of Rachel Stevens who appeared on the series last year and is "raring to go". The news of her possible sign up comes after claims she felt "pushed out" of S Club and the remaining members of the band were allegedly told not to speak to her.

Meanwhile, Gogglebox icon Stephen Webb could be swapping the sofa for the ice rink. Stephen, who was on the Channel 4 show for a decade, left the series earlier this month in a bid to pursue "other opportunities".

Charlotte McIntyre

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