Christine Bleakley joins Dancing On Ice as co-host

Christine Bleakley joins Dancing On Ice as co-host
Christine Bleakley joins Dancing On Ice as co-host (Image credit: PA)

Christine Bleakley is to replace Holly Willoughby as co-presenter of the new series of Dancing On Ice, after the latter announced she would not be renewing her contract. The Irish presenter - who has been co-hosting Daybreak with Adrian Chiles, will join Phillip Schofield on the celebrity skating show when it returns in the New Year. And she confessed to being a "total addict" of the show. "My only concern was what a big task it is to follow the brilliant and I can only promise her, Phillip and everyone at home that they couldn't have a bigger fan of the show on board." Phillip - who broke the news via his Twitter account on Friday - said he was "absolutely delighted" that Christine would be joining him. Holly refused to disclose why she was leaving the show, blaming only "work commitments". She told one of her fans on Twitter they would "have to wait until next week" to find out the reason, adding, "no I'm not pregnant". And she wished Christine success in her new role, tweeting, "Good luck to Christine Bleakley on this year's Dancing On Ice. It's a truely(sic) magical show and you will love it. I'll miss you all very much!" News of Christine's appointment came in the wake of speculation that she and Adrian Chiles have been axed from Daybreak and will be leaving the show "within weeks". Holly, meanwhile, will continue to co-host This Morning with Phillip Schofield and working on the ITV2 show Celebrity Juice, but according to a statement released by ITV has "other commitments" over the winter season. There is speculation that the 30-year-old, who is not on an exclusive contract to ITV, has been snapped up to present the BBC's new talent show The Voice which begins early next year. This year's Dancing On Ice was won by former EastEnders actor Sam Attwater. Celebrities rumoured to be taking part in the new series, which is due to begin in January, include EastEnders actress Laila Morse, soap stars Jennifer Ellison and Andy Whyment, actress and designer Sadie Frost and Sugababes singer Heidi Range.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.