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Dancing on Ice have added Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards to the ITV show line-up last minute after former Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb was forced to quit the competition due to a nasty injury.
Swapping skis for skates, the 59-year-old winter sports legend will be taking to the ice alongside his fellow celebrities as training for the 2024 series has now begun. Speaking about joining the show, Eddie said: “"It’s bittersweet as whilst I’m delighted to be taking part in the new series I’m gutted for Stephen and wish him a speedy recovery.
"Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!” Eddie joins the cast after Stephen had to withdraw from the show due to an injury he sustained during training.
READ MORE: Want more showbiz? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
READ MORE: Want more TV? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
Eddie will be joining the class of 2024 which includes, World Champion Boxer Ricky Hatton MBE, actress Claire Sweeney, actress and singer Hannah Spearritt, West End star Amber Davies and Olympic Champion and presenter Greg Rutherford MBE, TV personality Miles Nazaire, comedian and writer Lou Sanders, actor Ricky Norwood, Broadcaster and DJ Adele Roberts, actor Ryan Thomas and Emmerdale Roxy Shahidi.
Back for a sparkling new series, the greatest show on ice promises more glitz, glamour and show stopping performances as the celebrities brave it all to learn this dangerous discipline. But who has what it takes to master the skill and steps and lift the trophy at the end of the series?
Olympian Eddie became the first ever competitor to represent Team GB in ski jumping 35 years ago and his impressive life story brought him a whole new generation of fans when Taron Egerton played him in a biographical film in 2016.
He was working as a plasterer when he first qualified for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada as the sole British contender for the ski jump and was forced to take up accommodation in a mental hospital due to lack of funds. Eddie finished last in both the 70m and 90m events at the games, he still set a British record at 71m, which is now held by Sam Bolton, at 134.5m.
Eddie is still sixth on the all-time list of Brit ski jumpers, though. Following the widespread attention he received in Calgary, the entry requirements were made stricter, making it nearly impossible for anyone to follow his footsteps.
The International Olympic Committee later instituted what became known as the Eddie the Eagle Rule, which requires Olympic hopefuls to compete in international events and be placed in the top 30 percent or the top 50 competitors, whichever is fewer. However, Eddie failed to qualify for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France but went on to become a global personality.
Dancing on Ice returns to ITV1 and ITVX in January 2
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- Dancing On Ice
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