Gemma Collins 'signs up for Dancing on Ice'

21 September 2018

Gemma Collins has signed up for 'Dancing on Ice'.

Gemma Collins

The 'Only Way is Essex' star is said to have been sent a "big" written offer to appear in the next series of the ice skating talent show, and show bosses are "confident" she will be a huge skating success.

A show source said: "Gemma was one of the first names they wanted to sign.

"They made her a big offer and are confident she will be one of the stars of the show this year.

"They think viewers will love to see her show off her dancing skills, particularly as 'Strictly' turned her down."

Gemma previously made no secret of her desire to join BBC One's 'Strictly Come Dancing' this year, but the show banned reality stars from competing on the latest series.

An ITV source added to The Sun newspaper: "We'll have celebrities from all walks of life on our shows.

"The GC is a big character and will be telly gold. Strictly's loss is Dancing on Ice's gain."

Gemma previously hit back at 'Strictly' judge Craig Revel Horwood after he claimed she wasn't "high calibre" enough to take part in the BBC Latin and ballroom show.

She said: "I find his comment funny. I'm not low rent, Craig. We've all got to start somewhere and it's a shame to just knock someone out of giving them a chance because they don't think I'm high calibre enough.

"Well I'm sorry I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth but I get 2.2million hits on my social media. Where did he start?

"He was just a dancer and I was just a girl from Romford once. I'm not being funny, a couple more years who knows? I could be sitting drinking tea with Madonna.

"If anything, I'd probably bring a different audience to the BBC. It'll be called the BGC by the time I've finished with rumba-ing it up."

No-nonsense Craig had said: "Gemma Collins would be fun on the show but it's not very often that we have reality stars take to the ballroom. We generally have people of a higher calibre than that."

Gemma, 37, had previously insisted upon a spot on 'Strictly' as compensation for falling through a trap door whilst presenting an award at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards in 2017.

But she later signed up to 'Celebrity Masterchef' instead.

A source said at the time: "Initially she was determined that only 'Strictly Come Dancing' would do, but she's excited about the prospect of 'MasterChef' and it has very much cooled the tension.

"Everyone is looking forward to having her on. She's a great character and popular with viewers - she'll bring something very different to the series."