Soap star Claire Sweeney has confirmed she will be taking part in the next series of Dancing On Ice.
The actress, 52, is the second celebrity to be announced, joining the previously announced World Champion Boxer Ricky Hatton MBE.
Revealing the news on Wednesday’s This Morning, Claire 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.
‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
Exciting: Soap star Claire Sweeney is the second celebrity confirmed to be taking part in the next series of Dancing On Ice
Revealing the news on Wednesday’s This Morning, Claire, 52, 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!’
Claire added: ‘I’m nervous and excited about doing it.’
When quizzed on her previous dance experience by Holly Willoughby and her co-host Ben Shephard, she said: ‘How does dancing prepare you for skating? It’s totally different.
‘It’s more about the mind and conquering the fear. You can make nice shapes with your arms and stuff like that but it’s about getting over the fear.’
The actress is best known as Lindsay Corkhill 90s soap Brookside before joining Corrie earlier this year in the role of Cassie Plumber.
A source previously told The Sun: ‘Claire is going to be the first big name to be unveiled for Dancing On Ice’.
‘She is a really talented performer and is pretty decent on the ice already.’
No stranger to the spotlight Claire has previously sung and dance in string of musicals including Guys and Dolls and Legally Blonde.
It comes after Ricky, 44, revealed on This Morning: ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink. I like setting new challenges and keeping myself busy!’
The name of the first contestant had been teased throughout the show by hosts Holly Willoughby and Ben Shephard.
Ricky’s silhouette could be seen and a number of clues including boxing gloves were used to hint at his identity.
Scary: ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited’
When quizzed on her previous dance experience by Holly Willoughby and her co-host Ben Shephard, she said: ‘How does dancing prepare you for skating? It’s totally different.’
Throwback: She is best known as Lindsay Corkhill 90s soap Brookside (L-R Claire Sweeney, Dean Sullivan, Sue Jenkins, and George Christophe pictured on the soap in 1989)
Actress: She joined the cast of Corrie earlier this year in the role of Cassie Plumber (pictured)
The sporting icon admitted his daughters are finding his latest signing ‘absolutlely hilarious’ but he said that he believes the show will be good for his well-being.
He said: ‘It was well documented that I struggled when I retired from boxing amongst a few other things and I’m trying to do my bit for mental health… I’ve never been shy to discuss it.’
‘When I retired I was sat there with nothing to do and my world fell apart a little bit. It’s all about keeping busy and doing things that are positive and new adventures!’
He also said: ‘I can dance on the solid floor but I don’t know how I’ll do on the dance floor. It’s more about being disciplined and about believing in yourself.
‘New adventures don’t come more than Dancing On Ice. It is a challenge and with boxing. it is a balance.
‘You remember dance sequencing and moves and in boxing, you do a little bit, remembering combinations and stuff like that. I should have the attributes to do pretty well.’
Gogglebox star Stephen Webb, 52, was reportedly set to join the line-up ‘in a bombshell move’.
He announced he was leaving the Channel 4 ‘s show earlier this month in a bid to p ursue ‘other opportunities’.
And according to The Sun it turned out the Brighton hair salon owner has traded ‘his sofa for skates’, as a source admitted several Gogglebox stars ‘face a dilemma at some point’ as they receive various offers after developing a higher profile.
First Dancing On Ice star revealed: Sporting legend Ricky Hatton was confirmed to be taking part in the new series of the talent show on Tuesday
Doing what he does best: Ricky (L) in action against Carlos Maussa (R) during their unification light welterweight title fight at the Sheffield Arena November 26, 2005 in Sheffield
The telly source told the publication: ‘Stephen had very much developed his own profile. It wasn’t a surprise he received other offers, though no one would have necessarily guessed he’d be doing Dancing On Ice.’
Stephen has been on the Channel 4’s show for a decade and was one of the most prominent stars – but he told fans earlier this month: ‘After careful consideration, Daniel and I have decided we will not be returning for the new series of Gogglebox.
‘We feel the time is right to move on and explore other opportunities.’
It has also been reported that S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt has joined the cast of the ITV show.
The singer, 42, is said to have already started rehearsals, after she left S Club in May, after the shocking death of her former boyfriend and bandmate Paul Cattermole .
Hannah will be following in the footsteps of fellow S Club star Rachel Stevens who competed on the show in 2022.
A spokesperson for the show declined to comment on the claims and said all names are ‘purely speculative’ at this point.
Shona McGarty has also been rumoured to be taking part, after she quit her role on EastEnders after 15 years.
The actress, 31, who played Whitney Dean on the BBC soap, quit her role in July after a reported cast shake up.
Former partnership: Holly Willoughby is set to return as host for the show, after after her former co-star Phillip Schofield was axed from the programme (pictured in January this year)
Holly Willoughby is set to return as host for the show, after after her former co-star Phillip Schofield was axed from the programme.
Phillip, 61, presented the series alongside Holly, 42, for 12 series, before and after its four-year hiatus, before he was axed from his ITV shows this year after he had an affair with a junior This Morning colleague.
Stephen Mulhern is reportedly being lined up to replace Phillip, and is said to have been offered the show and is thinking it over, according to the Mirror .
The Catchphrase star, 46, has already had a taste of hosting the figure skating competition after he was brought in to replace Phillip when he was struck down with Covid last February.
It was claimed Vernon Kay was also being considered for the role while Holly is also close to Bradley Walsh , while Jordan Banjo could be another option.
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We will be confirming details about Dancing on Ice 2024 in due course.’
Dancing on Ice returns to ITV and ITVX in 2024 with a new cast.