Jayne Torvill has confirmed 'Dancing on Ice' is to return.

Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill

Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill

The popular ice skating show is set to make a sensational return to ITV this year - three years after it left television screens - and the legendary figure skater, who is joined by partner Christopher Dean as a coach on the programme, says the format has been "revamped" and it will "set a new bar" for shows of its kind.

Torvill, 59, excitedly shared: "I love that it's coming back, it's great news - I'm really looking forward to it.

"The show will definitely be refreshed but the basics will be the same, we will still be teaching celebrities how to skate.

"It was a different sort of platform being in the studio - we like to be creative and come up with new things. There's a new bar to set when the show returns."

The professional Olympian - who famously performed the Bolero routine, which she and Christopher won the gold medal for at the Olympics in 1983, at the end of every series from 2006 until 2014 - is desperate for retired soccer aces Steven Gerrard and David Beckham to compete on the show as her son is a "massive" fan.

She told The Sun newspaper: "My son is a massive Steven Gerrard fan; he wants him to do 'Dancing on Ice; as he's retired now.

"He's also keen on David Beckham taking part but I told him that's unlikely."

Torvill and Dean appeared on the show alongside coach Karen Barber to help train the aspiring skaters and offer comments and advice after every live show following the judges' scores.

At the peak of its popularity, 'Dancing on Ice' - which was originally hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby - attracted 13 million viewers.

But its audience dwindled over time and it was scrapped altogether in 2014.

Christine Lampard co-hosted with Schofield from 2012, but it was axed after nine series.