Oti Mabuse confirmed as Dancing on Ice judge

Oti Mabuse has joined the 'Dancing on Ice' judging panel.

The 'Strictly Come Dancing' professional will team up with Christopher Dean, Jayne Torvill and Ashley Banjo on the ITV show in the new year, after it was recently confirmed John Barrowman would no longer be a judge.

Oti said: "As a professional dancer I have always had so much respect for the skating professionals on 'Dancing On Ice'.

"It is an exceptional skill that is also so beautiful to watch. I'm feeling really enthusiastic about joining the panel alongside the legendary Torvill and Dean and Ashley Banjo. I can't wait to see the celebrities thrive as they learn how to ice-skate and to champion the professional skaters as they create incredible choreography. Having been on both sides of the table, I know a little bit about how they'll be feeling. It's more than an honour and I already can't wait to join the family."

Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning, ITV, said: "Oti is not only a supremely talented dancer and choreographer but she brings enormous fun and energy to all that she does.

"It's fantastic to be welcoming her to our Ice Panel."

'Coronation Street' legend Sally Dynevor, Happy Mondays dancer Bez, Paralympian Stef Reid, Love Island's Liberty Poole, rugby star Ben Foden, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, Paul Gascoigne's son, dancer Regan Gascoigne, pop star Rachel Stevens, professional dancer Brendan Cole, presenter Ria Hebden, BMX Olympic silver medallist Kye Whyte and The Vamps' Connor Ball will all take to the ice in January.

In October, ITV confirmed John - who admitted earlier this year that he had sought therapy after being embroiled in a scandal for exposing himself on set - would not return as a judge for the next series.

A spokesperson said in a statement: "We thank John for two brilliant years on the 'Dancing on Ice' panel and are pleased to be working with him again as host of the forthcoming 'All Star Musicals' specials.

"John is thrilled to be returning to work for ITV as host on the new 'All Star Musicals'."

Last month, John claimed some of his previous on-set behaviour was "bawdy and silly", but "absolutely not" sexual harassment.

When asked if he had "crossed a line" on occasions, he said: "I think that if it was now, it would be crossing the line. I think that something that happened 15 years ago, it was bawdy behaviour, silly behaviour, it was being done in the confines of the set, and we were like a family, working together.

"The fact that it was stories that I've already told. I've been telling them for years.

"I haven't hidden anything, they've been exaggerated, and they've tried to turn them into sexual harassment which it absolutely is not.

"The one thing for me, all the people that are making the fuss about it, they weren't there, they don't know the context of things that were done, like I said, I would never do it now but what we're not allowing people and myself to do ... we're not allowing people to learn to adapt and to change, and that's the most important thing."

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will co-host 'Dancing on Ice' once again.