ITV’s hit skating show is set to make a triumphant return to screens tonight at 6pm. The series, which originally ran on air between 2006 and 2014, pairs famous faces alongside professional skaters, who each week perform in a bid to impress both the panel and the viewers at home.
Kem Cetinay is one of 12 celebrities bidding to dance and dazzle their way to glory. The 20-year-old from Romford came to prominence after winning reality TV show Love Island last summer. His latest challenge is particularly tough given he was barely able to stand on skates, let alone dance a routine before he started training for the show.
Kem has been regularly sharing his experiences on the ice rink – the highs and usually his many falls! – via his social media pages to the delight of his two million plus fans. As he says, “what’s the worse [sic] that could happen”?
The pint-sized former hair dresser, who was presented with the Rising Star 2017 award by the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations in Britain in October, does share his fears and hopes from appearing on Dancing on Ice in this candid pre-show interview, including how he’d respond if he dropped his partner during a routine.
Get ready for some laughs guys..because this is actually happening and I’ve never been so scared in my life What’s the worse that could happen?! pic.twitter.com/s1WHAqkScY
— Kem (@KemCetinay) 3 January 2018
Any errors in Kem’s performance are sure to be spotted by legendary skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who will be reunited with original hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on the show. Torvill and Dean will sit on a revamped ice panel alongside the formidable Jason Gardiner and choreographer extraordinare Ashley Banjo.
Dancing on Ice also boasts a spectacular new set, and more ambitious routines than ever before, guaranteed to make the show’s revival an unmissable event television. ITV Racing’s Matt Chapman will commentate to give viewers at home that added excitement.
2018 cast for ITV’s Dancing on Ice
This year’s cast of celebrities are plucked from the world of TV, music and showbiz. The full line up of celebrity skaters (named first) and their professional partners is as follows:
Donna Air and Mark Hanretty
Cheryl Baker and Dan Whiston
Alex Beresford and Brianne Delcourt
Candice Brown and Matt Evers
Kem Cetinay and Alex Murphy
Antony Cotton and Brandee Malto
Max Evans and Ale Izquierdo
Lemar and Melody Le Moal
Jake Quickenden and Vanessa Bauer
Perri Shakes-Drayton and Hamish Gaman
Brooke Vincent and Matej Silecky
Stephanie Waring and Sylvain Longchambon
Kem’s family, friends and fans are already rooting for him, complete with bespoke #TeamKem t-shirts and jumpers. If you want to join them, tune in to ITV tonight, and make sure to vote for him when the time comes. The easiest way for smart phone users is to download the ITV Dancing on Ice app – visit the ITV website here (scroll down to the bottom of the article to download either the IOS or Android version).
Main photo Kem Cetinay and professional skating partner Alex Murphy, ITV/Dancing on Ice.
