Jason Gardiner has slapped a sex ban on this year's 'Dancing on Ice' contestants.

Jason Gardiner

Jason Gardiner

The 46-year-old TV judge has advised the celebrities to abstain from sex and alcohol over Christmas, because he fears it will harm their chances on the show, which returns to TV screens in 2018.

He said: "They need to avoid alcohol, any overindulgence on Christmas Day and sex.

"Absolutely no sex. It drains you of your chi. I'm being serious. Like boxers, they will have to abstain. I'm going to."

Despite taking a keen interest in the celebrities' lifestyles, Jason revealed he doesn't really see them as being different to anyone else.

The upcoming series will feature the likes of Brooke Vincent, Donna Air and Cheryl Baker, but Jason won't be giving them any special treatments.

He told The Sun newspaper: "I don't see them as celebrities. When you first meet them, they are all very cool.

"It's mainly everyone around them that gets offended - 'I can't believe you just said that' - but they are just people and they want to be treated evenly and equally in this competition."

And Jason has even suggested that this year's coaches-turned-judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won't be spared his criticism.

He joked: "It's going to be very difficult to sit there and argue with your idols. But, at the end of the day they are on my panel.

"It's going to be tough, I'm not going to lie, but I won't bow down to them if I think they are wrong.

"If I disagree with them then I will fight my corner. It wouldn't be 'Dancing on Ice' without the judging drama. I can't wait for it to start."