29 September 2023 , 17:17
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Dancing on Ice's next celebrity sign-up has been 'revealed'.
Sources claim producers are bringing a multi-medal-winning athlete as the popular programme's fifth famous face, naming Strictly and Celebrity Masterchef star Greg Rutherford.
The retired track and field athlete, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing seven years ago, was ruled out of the 2022 Winter Olympics following a shoulder injury. Now insiders say Dancing on Ice is a new project "to focus on and train for".
A source said: "Greg was gutted after his Olympic dreams were derailed, but it basically freed up his calendar so when the Dancing On Ice offer came along, he decided to chat with bosses. As an athlete, he loves having something to focus on and a project to train for, so this will give him something to channel his competitive spirit into."
Greg is reportedly 'confirmed' for Dancing on Ice (British Athletics via Getty Images)They told The Sun: "Ice skating is arguably more athletic than ballroom dancing, so Greg should really come into his own on the show. He'll put the hours into training and be laser-focused on going all the way."
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It comes after Dancing on Ice revealed Amber Davies as the fourth celebrity to join the latest series of the ITV competition. The news was confirmed by Lorraine Kelly on Friday after teasing a number of clues throughout her ITV morning show. Amber joined the Scottish presenter in the studio to discuss the new role.
Revealing the news exclusively on Lorraine, Amber said: "I would definitely say that I'm an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them, I don't want the adrenalin to get the better of me."
She added: "I can count on one hand how many times I've ice skated." Amber is the fourth celebrity to be announced, joining the previously announced World Champion Boxer Ricky Hatton MBE, actress Claire Sweeney and actress and singer Hannah Spearritt. Speaking about the moment she received the call for Dancing on Ice, Amber admitted she was shocked to be asked. She told Lorraine: "I was surprised. I was elated and over the moon I even got the call for Dancing on Ice because I hadn't been on telly in a while.
"I thought that kind of ship had potentially sailed because I picked my path [on the West End] and I’ve been working hard. When I spoke to the producers, and I said, ‘Why me? They said, ‘Because you're doing so well in your industry.’ And for in that moment, I really did feel like my hard work was paying off."