R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Singer Gareth Gates and former tennis player Greg Rusedski are among the stars competing in the third series of ITV1 show Dancing on Ice.

They join ten other celebrities who will perform ice skating routines in front of a live studio audience.

Irish pop star Samantha Mumba and television presenter Tim Vincent have also signed up for the programme.

Former Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will return to coach the stars.

Viewers votes

Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will present the series.

Suzanne Shaw, who shot to fame after winning the ITV reality TV show Popstars with the group Hear'Say, has also signed up to compete.

She will be joined by Sarah Greene, best known for presenting BBC children's show Going Live, former Hollyoaks actor Chris Fountain and ex-Emmerdale actress Linda Lusardi.

Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby return as hosts

Aggie Mackenzie, who fronts the Channel 4 show How Clean is your House?, GMTV reporter Michael Underwood, sports presenter Natalie Pinkham and javelin star Steve Backley complete the line-up.

Each celebrity is trained and coached by a professional skating partner and must compete for viewers' votes each week to remain in the competition.

Rugby player Kyran Bracken was crowned champion last year.

The stars will take to the ice rink for the first time in front of the audience on Sunday from 1750 GMT.

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Didn't Sarah Greene present Going Live with Phil? Know doubt we will see Hubby Mike Smith ( Former Radio One DJ ) somewhere in the audience.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

We have seen, from the selection of participants to Strictly Come Dancing, that some are chosen because they are older and they know that they are likely to be humiliated or suffer injury (Gloria Hunniford, Jimmy Tarbuck, Bill Turnbull).

The same appears to apply with this show. The chosen participants appear to fall into three categories

Popstars, actors and TV presenters (six of them) in their 20s

Former sportsmen Greg Rusedski and Steve Backley, now in their 30s

Sarah Greene, Linda Lusardi and Aggie MacKenzie, aged 49 - 53.

I'm sure Sarah, Linda and Aggie are still as ft as any of us at that age, but I cannot help feeling that they're at a distinct disadvantage against the rest, if not athletically, then in popularity among the demographic of phone and text voters.

I've always been put off the show by the over-excitement bordering on hysteria of the studio audience (not to mention Philip Schofield yelling at the top of his voice), but the time, effort, concentration and dedication put in by the participants (both celebrities and their relatively unsung professional partners) on both this and the Beeb's Strictly has to be admired.
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Ron

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

In other words, to put it less diplomatically, Sarah, Linda and Aggie are too old, and I hope they're fully insured. Rolling Eyes

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Ron

Natasha · Little Miss Lovely Smile Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 790

As long as we get plenty of 'arse sliding on ice action' - I don't care who the 'celebrity' is. Dont cha just love to see a 'lovie' falling flat on their axel? Twisted Evil

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Eternal nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it.

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!