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Who are the judges for 'Dancing On Ice' 2022? Meet the new ice panel

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Dancing on Ice: SR14 on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: (L-R), Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

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The 2022 ice panel. (ITV)

Dancing On Ice is back for 2022 with a new addition to the ice panel - but who will be judging and hosting the show this year?

The ITV celebrity skating series has snapped up a star from a rival BBC show to complete its judging line-up, with one previous panel member leaving the show.

Read more: Who is taking part in Dancing On Ice 2022?

Here's all you need to know about the expert judges scoring the celebrity cast for the new series.

Who are the Dancing On Ice 2022 judges?

As usual, there are four famous judges sitting on the ice panel this year - although there's one new addition to the cast...

Oti Mabuse

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 11th January 2022

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Dancing on Ice: SR14 on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: Oti Mabuse.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

For further information please contact:
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Oti Mabuse joins the 'Dancing On Ice' judging panel. (ITV)

Dancing On Ice has signed up one of the biggest stars from rival BBC show Strictly Come Dancing - pro dancer Oti Mabuse.

After winning the show in both 2019 and 2020 with Kelvin Fletcher and then Bill Bailey, Mabuse knows exactly what to look for in the amateur skaters' dancing and performing skills.

She's also served as a TV judge on BBC's The Greatest Dancer, so is experienced at sitting on a TV contest panel.

Read more: Has Oti Mabuse danced on Strictly for the last time?

Mabuse said: "I can be strict but no…I’ll be honest, I’ll be genuine and I’ll be passionate and I’ll be myself. I’ll always look for the good but also critique them and suggest what they can do to improve."

She added: "I think I’m going to be looking for chemistry. I’m going to be looking for just that moment that gives you goosebumps. I’ll be looking for that every single week. To see them getting better, entertaining us - that’s what I want.

"I’ll be looking for people who love the show. It’s so obvious when somebody doesn’t love the show, isn’t obsessed with the show and I think the ones that are deserve to go far. They’re the ones that give their all and leave their heart out there."

Ashley Banjo

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 11th January 2022

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Dancing on Ice: SR14 on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: Ashley Banjo.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

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Ashley Banjo returns for a fifth year of judging. (ITV)

Dancer and choreographer Ashley Banjo returns to the ice panel for a fifth year.

He found fame on TV contest Britain's Got Talent where he danced with his group Diversity, so Banjo has plenty of performing experience to offer the contestants.

Talking about being a judge but not a skating pro, Banjo said: "At first people would look at me and be like, why are you there? But we’ve always had a couple of dancers and the legends that are Jayne and Chris. I feel like Jayne and Chris have got that covered. You are never going to get more expertise than Jayne and Chris. So let’s have people that look at it differently. I think it works."

Read more: Jim Davidson storms out of racism debate with Ashley Banjo

He added: "When I first started, I used to be like ‘Is that good enough as a skate?’ It didn't matter, I’m there to look at the way the choreography works, the technicality, the performance and the skating but definitely the performance first.

"It’s a skating show but the performance is just as important because the people that tend to do well aren’t always the best skaters.

"Joe Swash was a great skater, but Perri (Kiely, his Diversity co-star) was probably the best skater we’ve ever had. That’s not what made Joe win. So it shows you how important performance is."

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 11th January 2022

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Dancing on Ice: SR14 on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

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Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean say it's a talented cast this year. (ITV)

The biggest names in UK skating are of course back for another series and to impart their decades of expertise to the celebrities.

Although the pair have only been judges since 2018, they have been involved with Dancing On Ice from the start as mentors and choreographers.

Torvill said: "Chris and I still love doing our performances as well as being on the panel. This show feels a bit like our baby. When it started first of all we came up with the format and discussed how it would work so to still be a part of it is very special to us."

Read more: Dancing On Ice returns after most chaotic series in show's history

Both skaters have pegged Brendan Cole and Kimberly Wyatt as the celebrities to watch, but added that the skill level was generally high this year.

Dean said: "I always love the start of a new season, it's always exciting. It's like starting school again to see who all the characters are and who's going to do well.

"Having said that, this time we have had some sneak peaks and I have to say the standard looks really high, I know we say that each year but truly, the majority of the celebrities you just can’t call it at this early stage."

Where is John Barrowman?

John Barrowman will not return for the 2022 series. (Getty Images)
John Barrowman will not return for the 2022 series. (Getty Images)

Actor and performer John Barrowman served as a judge for the previous two series, but last year it was announced that he would not return for the 2022 competition.

In an ITV statement, a spokesperson said: “We thank John for two brilliant years on the Dancing On Ice panel and are pleased to be working with him again as host of the forthcoming All Star Musicals specials.”

Read more: John Barrowman explains why he exposed himself on Torchwood

Barrowman was involved in a sexual misconduct scandal last year when an old interview with Noel Clarke, who was accused of sexual harassment last year by more than 20 women, showed him claiming that Barrowman would regularly expose himself on the set of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.

The actor has defended himself by saying he felt it was down to him as the star of Torchwood to keep people entertained and added: "My actions were simply designed to defuse any potential awkwardness among the cast and crew."

He has since been dropped from various projects associated with Torchwood.

Who is hosting Dancing On Ice 2022?

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 11th January 2022

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Dancing on Ice: SR14 on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

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The presenting duo are back on the ice. (ITV)

Usual hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are once again swapping the This Morning sofa for the ice rink as hosts.

Schofield has claimed the show is much more difficult than its BBC rival Strictly, because of the potential for things to go wrong on the ice.

He said: "I love Strictly but compared to the skills that are required for Dancing On Ice it’s a walk in the park, because you have the possibility of real danger, real injury.

Read more: Brendan Cole ended up in A&E after Dancing On Ice fall

"You have a rink that is full of essentially blades and we know how dangerous they can be and how deeply they can cut and how sharp they are.

"I’ve just watched a video of Bez on his second day fall over backwards so hard that his helmet flew off. It’s one of those things but you don’t see that on Strictly. Dancing On Ice is really dangerous. They really all risk everything for it."

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: (L-R) Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield attend ITV Palooza! at The Royal Festival Hall on November 23, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are the show's regular hosts. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Last year, the show was hit by problems as five celebrities had to quit over injury or illness, the show had to take a break mid-series, and it ended a week early.

Schofield and Willoughby both said they hoped this year's series would run smoothly as Willoughby admitted: "Last year because of COVID we weren’t allowed a wrap party so I snuck in two of my kids water bottles with their names on.

"Nobody could see what was inside it, and I filled them up with gin and tonics, one for Phil and one for me and in the last ad break before the end, I was like, ‘we can bring out the gin now.’

"We both sat there, I think Phil had a Chester bottle and I had Belle’s and we sat there and had a gin and tonic."

Dancing On Ice begins on Sunday, 16 January at 6.30pm on ITV.

Watch: Dancing On Ice 2022 trailer