Strictly Come Dancing star ‘signs up’ for rival ITV show 13 years after reaching final

A Strictly Come Dancing finalist has reportedly signed up to rival ITV competition Dancing On Ice.

Sources claim Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey is swapping the ballroom for the skating rink, with ‘high hopes’ that her dance moves will impress viewers.

The Goldie McQueen actress, 36, who has also held roles on Waterloo Road and Casualty, appeared on Strictly in 2011, where she was partnered with Pasha Kovalev and came second to Harry Judd and Aliona Vilani.

She’s now said to be joining Ferne McCann on Dancing On Ice.

A source said: ‘Chelsee is absolutely hilarious and of course incredibly glamorous.

‘She made it to the final of Strictly back in 2011 so there are high hopes that she will once again wow viewers with her dance moves.

‘Bosses are determined to get a sexy female line up especially given the lack of women on Strictly this year and Chelsee is one of the hottest soap stars out there.

‘Everyone is very excited to have her on board.’

The insider added to The Sun that Chelsee ‘can’t wait’ to take to the ice.

They said: ‘Strictly was so long ago and this time there’s the added danger of performing on ice.

‘She knows it’s going to be tough but she’s really excited to get out there.’

This comes after it was claimed Towie star Ferne, 34, was the first ‘confirmed’ star for the 2025 series of Dancing On Ice.

A source said the reality TV star wants to ‘win over the public’ after being embroiled in a scandal.

In 2022, Ferne was heard in leaked voice notes calling the woman attacked with acid by her ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins ‘an ugly f*****g c**t.’

Collins, the father of her daughter Sunday, six, was jailed for 20 years for for throwing acid and injuring multiple people in a nightclub in 2017.

Ferne later apologised to Sophie Hall and the other victims of the 2017 attack but maintained the voice notes were ‘manipulated, edited and taken out of context.’

It has been said the I’m A Celebrity star is hoping DOI will give her the chance to ‘knuckle down’ and change the tide of opinion about her.

A source told The Sun: ‘It’s been a rough few years for Ferne but she has always been an ITV star, with her roots on Towie and then with her first steps into the mainstream on I’m A Celebrity in 2015.

‘So Dancing on Ice will be a chance for her to knuckle down, work hard and win over the public.

‘But her casting will raise eyebrows given her background.’

When approached by Metro.co.uk about Ferne’s rumoured casting, a spokesperson for ITV said: ‘The lineup for Dancing On Ice 2025 will be announced in due course.’

In 2023, Ferne addressed the scandal on her show Ferne McCann: First Time Mum and said it ‘destroyed’ her.

She said: ‘My whole world feels like it’s falling apart and it’s destroying me so much and I can’t do anything to fix it.

‘When I heard the voice notes I immediately remembered who I’d sent them to but I believe they’ve since been edited to remove their context.

Ferne continued: ‘Why? Because I think that someone is trying to destroy me and inflict as much damage into my life as possible.’

Since the scandal, Fern has welcomed a second daughter Finty in July 2023 with her fiancé Lorri Haines, 33.

She previously told Metro.co.uk her birth was ‘magical, one of the best experiences of my life,’ saying it is ‘insane, incredible, that women can do this.’

Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern are also said to be returning to present the January 2025 series of Dancing On Ice, according to The Sun.

Earlier this year, Holly returned to present the skating competition alongside new host Stephen, who replaced Phillip Schofield after he resigned from ITV having admitted to a relationship with a male This Morning employee.

The last winners of DOI were Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas and professional skater Amani Fancy.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Ferne’s and Chelsee’s reps for comment.

Dancing On Ice is returning to ITV and ITVX next year.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.