17 June 2023 , 20:59
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Cruise ship singer Jane McDonald has been named as the number one choice to replace Phillip Schofield on Dancing On Ice (DOI).
Jane, who stood in for the former This Morning star at the British Soap Awards earlier this month, is said to have blown ITV bosses away.
And the 60-year-old could now step into Phillip’s old skating shoes and join Holly Willoughby, 42, on the rink after sources confirmed the presenter has no plans to quit the show.
One insider said: “Jane is now the favourite to replace Phillip on Dancing on Ice when it returns next year.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield had presented Dancing on Ice together (WireImage)
Jane, 60, 'had people in stitches' when she hosted the soap ceremony for ITV (Jonathan Hordle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)“She did a great job hosting the Soap Awards earlier this month and bosses are keen to sign her up. She had people in stitches – and they love how frank she is, while also being very warm.”
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Phillip, 61, left ITV last month after admitting he had lied about an affair with a runner, so the 2023 series of DOI – won by gymnast Nile Wilson and skater Olivia Smart – was his last.
Holly’s future at ITV has also been in doubt after we revealed the BBC had launched a bid to poach her.
Dancing on Ice has been an ITV flagship show since 2006 (Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)But sources insist she has no plans to leave DOI. One said: “We are very much expecting Holly to be back. She has not indicated she might step away.”
Singer Jane has presented a string of travel shows, been a Loose Women panellist and appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox.
An ITV source said any reports about her were “speculation”, adding the 2024 DOI line-up will not be confirmed “until later in the year”.