Coronation Street's Claire Sweeney joins Dancing on Ice line-up

Actress Claire Sweeney has become the second celebrity announced to be taking part in the next series of Dancing On Ice.

The 52-year-old, who joined British soap opera Coronation Street this year as Cassie Plummer, shared the news on ITV’s This Morning on Wednesday.

She said: “I’m really looking forward to going to an ice rink with my son and actually being able to skate and not have to use the penguins they give you to help you stay upright!”

She added: “I’ve had to wear my boots around the house… I haven’t stepped on the ice yet.”

Sweeney joins the previously announced former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton who was revealed to be the first contestant to take part on the show during Tuesday’s episode of This Morning.

Sweeney has credits in TV shows Brookside, Doctors, Benidorm and Holby City and has also starred in productions that include 9 To 5 The Musical in 2022 and the 2011 UK tour of Legally Blonde.

This year, Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson was crowned Dancing On Ice champion after beating reality star Joey Essex to first place.

It is not yet known who will be presenting Dancing On Ice next year, after long-time host Phillip Schofield resigned from ITV in May after admitting to having a relationship with a younger male former colleague on This Morning.

Schofield had fronted the skating competition since its launch in 2006, alongside his former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby.

Willoughby returned to This Morning duties amid the furore of the Schofield affair, but it is not known if she will also return to host Dancing On Ice.

Dancing On Ice will return to ITV and ITVX in 2024 with a new cast of 12 celebrities who will take to the ice with their professional partners in a bid to impress both the panel and viewers at home.

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