‘I want all of the drama!'

Strictly favourite Oti Mabuse on swapping the ballroom for the ice rink and ‘stalking’ this year’s batch of contestants…

- SARAH SELWOOD

DANCING ON ICE NEW SUN / ITV / 6.30PM / EP 1 of 10 / ENTERTAINMENT

Grab a rinkside seat as Dancing on Ice is about to get even sparklier!

As the skating spectacular, hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, glides back onto ITV for a 14th series this Sunday, two-time Strictly Come Dancing winner and South African Latin American champion Oti Mabuse joins the show’s Ice Panel to cast her expert eye over this year’s new class of 12 brrr-ave celebrities.

Here, Oti, 31, whose previous judging credentials include ITV’s The Masked Dancer and BBC1’s The Greatest Dancer, tells us why this is such a n-ice gig…

Welcome to ‘the greatest show on ice’! What made you sign up?

Because it is the greatest show on ice! I love all things dance, and I’m really honoured to be on a show that celebrates dance.

We know you are an incredible dancer, but have you ever ice skated?

Yes, I’ve skated! I’m not saying I’ve skated well, but I’ve skated.

You’ll be sitting on the Ice Panel alongside Diversity frontman Ashley Banjo plus head judges and ice-skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. Have you met any of them before?

Yes, Ash and I have always been good friends. For years, I’ve said to him that we’ll work together.

Last time I saw Chris, he was a beagle [on The Masked Dancer]!

I haven’t met Jayne yet, but I’m super excited to and have that galpal relationship on the panel together.

Will you be a strict judge?