Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will return to host Dancing On Ice after 11 years
DANCING On Ice may have some new twists in store but fans hankering after the original format need not fret.
Original hosts PHILLIP SCHOFIELD and HOLLY WILLOUGHBY will triumphantly return, 11 years after they first fronted the show.
The pair will relaunch the ITV celebrity skating contest in early 2018, four years after it was axed.
Holly and Phil presented the series from 2006 to 2011 before Holly bowed out and the brilliant CHRISTINE BLEAKLEY stepped in.
A source said: “It’s a massive coup for ITV to have Holly and Phil back on board.
“Producers love the idea of going back to the original line-up and they’re both really excited to return to their roots.”
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JAYNE TORVILL and CHRISTOPHER DEAN will move from their coaching role to the judging panel and, as I revealed this week, pro skater SYLVAIN LONGCHAMBON is being lined up as the show’s chief skating tutor.
Celebrities understood to be in the mix for the new series include Bake Off champ CANDICE BROWN and Coronation Street actress KATIE McGLYNN.
Bringing back Holly and Phil is a sure-fire way to make the show one of the entertainment hits of 2018.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Soapbox
TURMOIL descends on EMMERDALE’s White family as Lawrence lies unconscious in hospital, with Lachlan and Rebecca at his bedside.
Chrissie is missing from the vigil and, while alone, she comes to a major decision about her future.
Robert is worried when he sees Aaron is sporting a black eye.
He tries to find out what happened but Adam is protective of his best friend and tells him to stay away.
In HOLLYOAKS Ryan and Ste finally come face-to-face.
Tegan convinces Ryan to visit Ste in hospital after he’s admitted with a chest infection, to see for himself just how broken he is.
Greg hit by water torture
INBETWEENERS star GREG DAVIES has ruled out another outing for the hit show.
The actor, who kept the lads on their toes as formidable head of sixth form Mr Gilbert, said: “I won’t play another teacher. I loved being in The Inbetweeners but it reached a natural conclusion.”
Greg has just finished filming the fourth series of his Channel 4 comedy Man Down.
But while the material is light-hearted, Greg found writing the sitcom so stressful he managed to flood his flat – twice.
He said: “One day I was very stressed because the writing process is horrific, I decided to have a nice warm bath and two hours later I remembered it when the water came through.
“The next day we had a writing session and afterwards I was quite stressed. And I thought I might have a bath and I did exactly the same thing.
“It’d taken me three hours to clean up the night before and it took me another three hours the next day.
“It’s a process of absolute madness.”
Perhaps Greg should stick to showers.
Must watch
WHAT? The South Bank Show, Sky Arts, 8pm.
WHY? Writer SALLY WAINWRIGHT reveals the secrets behind her TV hits Happy Valley, Last Tango In Halifax and Scott & Bailey.
She also talks about working on Corrie for five years.
Ampika's reality switch
AMPIKA PICKSTON has quit ITVBe reality show Real Housewives Of Cheshire.
The beauty entrepreneur has been a regular member of the glamorous cast for five explosive series.
But she feels the time is right to spread her wings.
Ampika spoke of her ambition to move into more mainstream telly in an interview earlier this year.
She said: “I would love to do I’m A Celebrity. I’ve been working with snakes and rats for nearly three years so they won’t bother me at all. I’m used to them.”
The Cheshire housewives have been causing havoc for telly bigwigs over on Channel 5 too.
DAWN WARD pulled out of Celebrity Big Brother at the last minute – leaving bosses frantically trying to fill the void.