I really hope that the trailer advertising the return of ITV’s Dancing On Ice hasn’t raised expectations.
Those cute polar bears, judged by a panel of squirrels, may well attract for more viewers than the show itself unless ITV has comprehensively revamped the show that was scrapped three years ago as a result of falling ratings. But Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are keeping faith with their pet project, though are now in the judges’ seats rather than coaching the celebrity contestants.
Dancing On Ice didn’t have a casualty rate to match The Jump when last on our screens but that isn’t to say there wasn’t the odd serious mishap and the 2018 series has already claimed its first victim. Former England spin bowler Monty Panesar fractured an ankle in training and has been replaced by singer Lemar.
Elsewhere, the line-up consists of the usual mix of soap actors and reality TV wannabes with the odd sportsman and presenter thrown in. Former Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown takes part – I wonder if she misunderstood when someone mentioned an iced pavlova?
Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have been confirmed as the presenters for the new series, reprising the roles they filled between 2006 and 2011. Jason Gardiner and Ashley Banjo will be the regular judges alongside Torvill and Dean.
Like The Jump, I suspect will viewers will tune in to watch Dancing On Ice just to see which of the D-listers manage to do themselves some harm. Bookmakers make Scottish rugby player Max Evans their early favourite at 5/1 but Jake Quickenden is making a decent living out of appearing on Saturday night fillers like X Factor and I’m A Celebrity. He’s tried his hand at professional football, music, acting and modelling – so why not ice skating. Boylesports are out of step with other betting firms by offering 6/1 about the 28-year-old from Scunthorpe and he may be the early value in a market which won’t really take shape until we see how contestants take to the ice for real in January.
Boylesports’ Odds for Dancing On Ice 2018
Max Evans 5/1, Brooke Vincent 11/2, Jake Quickenden 6/1, Perri Shakes-Drayton 7/1, Kem Cetinay 8/1, Donna Air and Stephanie Waring 10/1, Alex Beresford 12/1, Anthony Cotton and Candice Brown 14/1, Cheryl Baker 25/1
