Sunday, December 22, 2024

Ferne McCann can’t contain her laughter as she shows off her skating skills for the first time at Dancing On Ice training

Must read

Ferne McCann was all smiles as she was seen training for the first time for Dancing On Ice in London on Friday.

The former TOWIE star, 34, bundled up in a cream zip-up jumper and a blue gilet, teamed with skin-tight lilac leggings. 

She swept her brunette locks back into a ponytail and accessorised with dainty silver jewellery. 

Ferne couldn’t contain her laughter during the session as she was helped around the ice by a trainer. 

Ferne revealed her participation on Good Morning Britain earlier this month, as the mother-of-two shared: ‘I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I’m excited for the glitz and glamour of the show.’

Ferne McCann was all smiles as she was seen training for the first time for Dancing On Ice in London on Friday

The former TOWIE star, 34, bundled up in a cream zip-up jumper and a blue gilet, teamed with skin-tight lilac leggings

The former TOWIE star, 34, bundled up in a cream zip-up jumper and a blue gilet, teamed with skin-tight lilac leggings

Asked if she can skate, she confessed: ‘Kind of… I’ve done Winter Wonderland and stuff like that with the children but you know the penguins? I’m hunched over one of those!’

Ferne shot to fame in 2013 when she joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex for its ninth series.

She has since appeared on Celebs Go Dating and I’m A Celebrity, finishing the latter in third place.

Most recently she has starred in her own ITV show, My Family And Me, but earlier this month she confirmed the next series of her long-running reality series will be her last.

The show, which started life as Ferne McCann: First Time Mum and initially followed her pregnancy and raising her firstborn Sunday, has run for 13 series and 7 years.

The show was retitled in 2023 when Ferne welcomed her second daughter Finty.

She swept her brunette locks back into a ponytail and accessorised with dainty silver jewellery

She swept her brunette locks back into a ponytail and accessorised with dainty silver jewellery

Ferne couldn't contain her laughter during the session as she was helped around the ice by a trainer

Ferne couldn't contain her laughter during the session as she was helped around the ice by a trainer

Ferne couldn’t contain her laughter during the session as she was helped around the ice by a trainer

Ferne thanked the trainer and gave him a hug goodbye

Ferne thanked the trainer and gave him a hug goodbye 

But now she is ready to pull the plug after making the ‘difficult decision’ with businessman fiancé Lorri Haines and six-year old daughter Sunday, her child with former partner Arthur Collins.

She told The Sunday Mirror: ‘The point where everything changed was when Sunday actually said to me: ‘Am I famous?’ A few of her friends had seen her on an advert.

‘And I was like: ‘Oh I don’t know…’ It made me feel uncomfortable, because I don’t want her to feel she is different…

‘After that it felt like a whole different ball game, so I went away and worked out what I was feeling, and it felt like the right time to stop.’

She added that although Sunday has been on the show since she was born, she’d ‘never really’ watched it and was ‘unaware’ of the situation – until that question.

She slipped into a pair of white crocs and carried a large black bag

She slipped into a pair of white crocs and carried a large black bag

She slipped into a pair of white crocs and carried a large black bag

She sipped water from her Stanley cup and chatted on the phone

She sipped water from her Stanley cup and chatted on the phone 

Revealing the news on Monday's episode of GMB , the mother-of-two shared: 'I'm so excited, it's going to be a huge challenge but I'm excited for the glitz and glamour of the show'

Revealing the news on Monday’s episode of GMB , the mother-of-two shared: ‘I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I’m excited for the glitz and glamour of the show’

Asked if she can skate, she confessed: 'Kind of... I've done Winter Wonderland and stuff like that with the children but you know the penguins? I'm hunched over one of those!'

Asked if she can skate, she confessed: ‘Kind of… I’ve done Winter Wonderland and stuff like that with the children but you know the penguins? I’m hunched over one of those!’

Ferne appeared to be raring to go at the training session

Ferne appeared to be raring to go at the training session

She was in high spirits as she kicked off her training for the first time

She was in high spirits as she kicked off her training for the first time

Ferne cut a relaxed figure in her training look as she headed to the rink

Ferne cut a relaxed figure in her training look as she headed to the rink

Ferne shot to fame in 2013 when she joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex for its ninth series

Ferne shot to fame in 2013 when she joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex for its ninth series

She has since appeared on Celebs Go Dating and I'm A Celebrity, finishing the latter in third place

She is now preparing for DOI

She has since appeared on Celebs Go Dating and I’m A Celebrity, finishing the latter in third place

The full Dancing On Ice line-up was confirmed this week

The full Dancing On Ice line-up was confirmed this week

She will now take to the ice rink for the ITV show alongside fellow celebrities including Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, TV presenter Michaela Strachan and soap stars Charlie Brooks and Sam Aston

She will now take to the ice rink for the ITV show alongside fellow celebrities including Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, TV presenter Michaela Strachan and soap stars Charlie Brooks and Sam Aston

They will be joined by others including former footballer Anton Ferdinand, Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey and reality stars Mollie Pearce and Ferne McCann

They will be joined by others including former footballer Anton Ferdinand, Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey and reality stars Mollie Pearce and Ferne McCann

This is Ferne's next big TV gig after revealing her ITVBe series First Time Mum was coming to an end

This is Ferne’s next big TV gig after revealing her ITVBe series First Time Mum was coming to an end

Ferne didn't need a helping hand as she took to the rink for the first tme

Ferne didn’t need a helping hand as she took to the rink for the first tme

In March it was revealed Holly Willoughby has been offered a lucrative deal by ITV bosses to return to host Dancing On Ice next year in a bid to keep her at the channel.

For the first time in 20 years the presenter will not be contracted for a show on the channel, leaving the door open for their rivals to swoop in and hire her.

But The Mail on Sunday revealed that the programme will be back for another season, and that they are already in talks with Holly about her anchoring it alongside Stephen Mulhern in a clear sign to other broadcasters to keep their hands off of their star.

A source close to the show said: ‘Dancing On Ice is definitely coming back in 2025 and the plan is that Holly will host it.

‘Contracts are being negotiated but the chiefs love her and they know that there are others who would love to sign her up but ITV love her and they want to keep her very much part of the ITV furniture for years to come.

Ferne looked incredible for her appearance on the ITV news show in a white jumper and pleated mini skirt that showed off her enviably toned pins

Ferne looked incredible for her appearance on the ITV news show in a white jumper and pleated mini skirt that showed off her enviably toned pins 

Earlier this month Ferne confirmed the next series of her long-running reality series, My Family & Me, will be her last (pictured on the show with  fiancé Lorri Haines and daughters Sunday, six, and Finty, 14 months)

Earlier this month Ferne confirmed the next series of her long-running reality series, My Family & Me, will be her last (pictured on the show with  fiancé Lorri Haines and daughters Sunday, six, and Finty, 14 months) 

In March it was revealed Holly Willoughby has been offered a lucrative deal by ITV bosses to return to host Dancing On Ice next year in a bid to keep her at the channel

In March it was revealed Holly Willoughby has been offered a lucrative deal by ITV bosses to return to host Dancing On Ice next year in a bid to keep her at the channel 

‘Holly has a real fondness for the show, it really catapulted her career from a children’s presenter into grown up television so ITV very much hope that she will agree to the deal.’

Sources say that the upper echelons of ITV are also looking at other big shows that she can present after she quit This Morning after 14 years last October following a plot to kidnap and murder her as the BBC are said to be determined to hire her to host more of their programmes.

Meanwhile, skate experts Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean are said to be ‘super keen’ for the show to return because their tour to celebrate 50 years of skating together will start shortly after next year’s series ends.

A friend of the Olympic champions said: ‘Dancing On Ice will nicely segway into their tour so they are really keen to return next year. It all falls perfectly into place for them.’

DANCING ON ICE 2025: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

FERNE MCCANN 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: Reality TV star 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I’m excited for the glitz and glamour of the show.’

SIR STEVE REDRGAVE

AGE: 62

PROFESSION: Former Olympic rower 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘It’s like going back to being an athlete again, I’ve been competing most of my life.’

CHARLIE BROOKS 

AGE: 43

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve skated when I was a kid and with mulled wine at Christmas. Until I get on the ice I have no idea how I’m going to be. I’m not that strong.’

 

 ANTON FERDINAND

 AGE: 39

PROFESSION: Footballer and pundit

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: Dancing On Ice will give me that focus but I’m also doing it for my daughter because she loves dance and performing arts.’

 

 CHRIS TAYLOR

Age: 34

PROFESSION: Reality star

 WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m somewhere between absolutely terrified and very excited and I keep flitting between the two quite aggressively throughout the day. I’ve not even started stretching yet, I need to.’

 

CHELSEE HEALEY 

 AGE: 36

PROFESSION: Actress

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m ready, I’m good to go, let’s go! I’ve got a bit of rhythm but skating on ice is completely different, I’m excited. 

MOLLIE PEARCE 

 AGE: 22

PROFESSION: Reality TV star and model

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It will be fun, I want to challenge myself, I’m ready for the challenge.’

SAM ASTON 

AGE: 31 

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘Anyone at work who I’ve spoken to has done it have all kind of the same thing that it is a great experience and it is really hard, and it’s tiring and tough but it is brilliant as well.’

JOSH JONES

AGE: 31

PROFESSION: Comedian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘I’ve not got any skating experience whatsoever, I did it once for a date years ago and I wasn’t very good, I was holding onto the railings the entire time and we aren’t together now.’

 

 MICHAELA STRACHAN 

 

 AGE: 58

PROFESSION: Television presenter

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It’s going to be a big challenge, I think the last time I was on ice was 14 years ago, because I trained as a dancer, I’ve got a bit of balance, but I have no idea whether I’m going to be good.’

 

DAN EDGAR 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: TOWIE star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m looking forward to it but the thought of the live shows and performing is very real.’

 

DAME SARAH STOREY 

AGE: 46

PROFESSION: Paralympian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m excited to learn a new skill and have the opportunity to put myself out there and learn a new sport.’

 

Latest article