Olympians Colin Jackson, Graham Bell join Dancing On Ice

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: September 26 2020 | 11:58

Last updated: September 28 2020 | 13:21

Colin Jackson and Graham Bell join the lineup for next year's edition of Dancing On Ice.

ITV has named sporting stars Colin Jackson and Graham Bell as the latest two additions to the Dancing On Ice lineup.

The pair become the seventh and eighth celebrities competing in the new series, due to begin in January, joining Emmerdale's Joe-Warren Plant, Capital FM DJ Sonny Jay, TV presenter Denise van Outen, musician Myleene Klass, former Coronation Street star Faye Brookes and pop legend Jason Donovan.

Former hurdler Jackson, 53, earned a silver medal for Team GB 1988 Olympics and is no stranger to a TV dance contest, having finished runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing 15 years ago.

"I can do a little bit of skating," he told BBC Breakfast today. "I think with sport in itself you've certainly got a bit of balance and that will be transferable in this circumstance.

"How much dancing we'll do, who knows? We'll see how the choreography goes.

"I'm going to try and that's the most important thing. You go out there, you enjoy yourself and you learn a new skill and to hone the skill of skating will just be a huge, huge plus. I'm looking forward to it."

Graham Bell for Dancing On Ice © ITV

Bell, meanwhile, joins the show with a potential advantage from his days as a skier, which saw him represent Team GB at five successive Winter Olympics.

"Ice doesn't scare me, it's the dancing, whereas I know you can dance, Colin," he said in the BBC Breakfast interview.

"Colin's probably called up (Olympic figure skating champion) Katarina Witt and flown her over from Germany and hired her as a private coach!"

The identities of the four other celebrities in the lineup will be revealed in the coming days.