Michelle Heaton has struck up a friendship with Patsy Palmer on Dancing On Ice

Michelle Heaton has a blossoming friendship with Patsy Palmer thanks to ‘Dancing On Ice’.

The former Liberty X singer, 43, has enjoyed getting to know the ex-‘EastEnders’ star, 50 as they’re both “women of age” and she is looking forward to spending some quality time with the DJ away from the rink.

She said: “ITV aren’t part of the Whatsapp group. We’re all like, ‘For f***s sake, why is my call time so early?’ Patsy and I have a lot in common. We’re of an age and I’m looking forward to spending more time with her.

"I knew Siva [Kaneswaran] already and Ekin-Su Culculoglu is lovely.”

Michelle - who’s partnered with Polish pro skater Lukasz Rozycki, 39 – “wept with gratitude” after she got the call about joining the line-up.

The mum-of-two – who has daughter Faith 10 and son AJ, eight, with husband Hugh Hanley – recently celebrated 20 months of sobriety, and she wanted to make her children proud with her 'Dancing on Ice' stint.

Speaking to OK! magazine, she added: “It was a very intense couple of days waiting for the call. I had no idea whether it would be me or someone else.

“My daughter Faith and her friends were in the living room. I took the call from my agent, Ali, and went into the utility room. Faith followed me and I started to cry. She looked at me and said, ‘Oh no, haven’t you got it?’ and I was like, ‘No, Mummy’s got it.’ She started to cry with me and hugged me quietly because she knew she couldn’t tell her friends.

“It was just this overwhelming sense of gratitude. A few years ago I was considered for 'Dancing On Ice' and was gutted that I wasn’t chosen. Obviously I understand now why it wasn’t the right time.”