By Elizabeth Broughton

Last updated at 09:20, Friday, 09 January 2009

ROXANNE Pallett is set to star in this year’s Dancing on Ice, ITV have confirmed.

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The Carlisle-born former Emmerdale star had previously denied to the News & Star that she had any intention of going on the reality TV show as she kept it a secret.

But the 26-year-old has confirmed she is one of the celebrities who will take to the ice in the opening show on Sunday. She will partner professional skater and former series champion Dan Whiston, who won the show in 2006 with partner Gaynor Faye.

She said: “I’m thrilled that the time has finally arrived to officially announce that I am doing Dancin on Ice!

“It was so hard having to keep it a secret for contractual reasons and even harder having to deny it when asked before Christmas, but I’m so excited now toshare with you that I am about to take part in the show and I hope you all enjoy wtaching it.

“I’m hoping Carlisle will get an ice rink soon so everyone back home can have just as much fun skating too!”

And it’s been an unsteady start to training for the actress, who currently holds the record for hitting the ice the most times in one session – 14.

She said: “My bum is battered and bruised.

“Dan said he has never seen anybody fall so much. Even Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean said they were worried about me because I could not stay upright.”

Speaking about how Dan had encouraged the pair to try scary moves to get them out of the way, Roxanne said: “We had to lose all inhibitions when we started the choreography and when you go for a move you can’t hold back or it will all go wrong.

“And that’s one thing I am good at, I am a fighter and I don’t do things by halves, and Dan said ‘that’s good you’re not clinging onto me’. If anything I go the other way, I fall because I give so much.”

The stars and their professional partners are coached by Olympic legends Torvill and Dean for the weekly routines, performed in front of millions of viewers.

The couples are then judged each week by the panel of Jason Gardiner, Nicky Slater, Karen Barber, Ruthie Henshall and Robin Cousins as they compete to be named Dancing on Ice Champion 2009.

Competing alongside Roxanne will be ex-Eastenders stars Gemma Bissix and Todd Carty, TV presenters Michael Underwood, Jeremy Edwards and Melinda Messenger, and ex-Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon.

Rugby player Ellery Hanley, footballer Graeme Le Saux, singers Jessica Taylor and Ray Quinn, investigative reporter Donald MacIntyre and singer and presenter Coleen Nolan complete the line-up.

First published at 13:24, Tuesday, 06 January 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk