Dancing on Ice will return to ITV for 2019 this week with a cast of 12 new celebrities. Brian McFadden, Didi Conn, Gemma Collins, James Jordan, Jane Danson, Mark Little, Melody Thornton, Richard Blackwood, Ryan Sidebottom, Saara Aalto, Saira Khan and Wes Nelson make up this year’s Dancing on Ice line-up. ITV viewers can watch the cast of Dancing on Ice 2019 skate for the first time on Sunday, January 6 at 6pm on ITV. Related articles Dancing On Ice 2019 Coronation Street’s Jane Danson reveals setbacks Dancing On Ice 2019: James Jordan on ‘strict’ dance partner Who is on Dancing on Ice 2019? Brian McFadden Brian McFadden, 38, is a former member of Westlife who was the first member of the band to go solo. He is also known for his headline-grabbing past relationships with Kerry Katona, Vogue Williams and Delta Goodrem. The singer said of Dancing on Ice: “I’m not worried about learning routines or doing it in front of people. “The biggest fear is that I try to do something and I lose my feet, because if you fall down on the ice it’s not that easy to get back up.” WHO ARE THE DANCING ON ICE COUPLES? Bryan McFadden is in the cast of Dancing on Ice 2019 (Image: ITV) Didi Conn (Image: ITV) Didi Conn Didi Conn, 67, is best known for playing “beauty school dropout” Frenchie in the 1978 film Grease and its 1982 sequel Grease 2. She said of the programme: “The little girl in me thinks ‘wow’ and the 67 year old in me says ‘no, don’t try that.’ “It’s a challenge to focus on being the best that I can be. That’s why I signed up for it.” She also confessed she had not seen the show before she signed up and was nearly put off after she watched a video of previous contestants falling. WHO ARE THE DANCING ON ICE PROFESSIONALS? Related articles Dancing on Ice 2019: Didi Conn reveals ITV email that left her worried Strictly Come Dancing: James Jordan ice injury could END dance career Gemma Collins (Image: ITV) Gemma Collins Gemma Collins, 37, is the much-memed former The Only Way is Essex cast member. She since appeared on reality shows like I’m Celebrity, Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity MasterChef. She called Dancing on Ice “the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced.” She added: “ Knowing me I’m going to break my leg, my arms and my back all in one week, but let’s hope I do it in style should it happen!” WHO WON DANCING ON ICE 2018? James Jordan (Image: ITV) James Jordan James Jordan, 40, is a former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer and two-time Celebrity Big Brother contestant. He reached the finals of Strictly twice - once in 2010 when he and Dr Pamela Stephenson came third and once in 2012 when he was a runner-up with Denise Van Outen. He said of his dancing background: “I think I’ve probably got an advantage over people, where I can maybe sell a performance…as long as I’m still standing upright! He also added: “I did Strictly on the other side, I was always teaching someone my skill and I want a professional to teach me their skill.” WHERE IS DANCING ON ICE FILMED? Jane Danson (Image: ITV) Jane Danson Jane Danson, 40, plays Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street, a role she played between 1997 and 2000 before rejoining the soap in 2004. She said of the show: “Even though my name suggests otherwise, I wouldn’t call myself a dancer even though that’s what everyone calls me!” She will continue to film Coronation Street while appearing on this other ITV show. She said of this: “I’m quite close to the rink and I’m kind of used to juggling.” WILL THERE BE ANOTHER SERIES OF DANCING ON ICE? Mark Little (Image: ITV) Mark Little Mark Little, 59, played Joe Mangel in Neighbours from 1988 to 1991 and in 2005. The Australian actor has also presented a number of UK TV shows. He says of his latest UK TV project: “My biggest fear, honestly, is the safety of my partner. Of his previous dancing experience, he said: “ I’m not afraid to dance. As a youngster, growing up in the country in Australia, the country dance was very important.” Melody Thornton (Image: ITV) Melody Thornton Melody Thornton, 34, is the latest member of the band The Pussycat Dolls to try and launch a UK reality TV career. Despite the Pussycat Dolls being known for their dancing, Melody said: “I have a very hard time with choreography and dance does not come naturally to me. “I have to work extra hard and if it looks good then great, but just know I worked hard to make it happen!” After her past band member Ashley Roberts reached the Strictly Come Dancing finals this year, will Melody match her success? WHO IS MELODY THORNTON? Richard Blackwood (Image: ITV) Richard Blackwood Richard Blackwood, 46, is a former TV presenter who has recently played Vincent Hubbard in EastEnders from 2015 to 2018. His varied career has also seen him have three UK top 40 singles in the early 2000s. “I want to go out there and if I am going up against people that are half my age, I want to be able to give them a run for their money,” he said. “I think it’s just another level of showing myself that age is nothing but a number.” Ryan Sidebottom (Image: ITV) Ryan Sidebottom Ryan Sidebottom, 40, is a former England international cricketer, known to cricket fans by his locker-room nickname “Sexual Chocolate”. In his cricketing career, he is best known for his success playing for Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. He said: “Being a sportsman, I love a challenge and when I got told I was going to be on Dancing on Ice, I jumped for joy! “It’s been difficult not telling anyone, so that’s been the hardest part!” WHO IS RYAN SIDEBOTTOM? Saara Aalto (Image: ITV) Saara Aalto Saara Aalto, 31, was the runner-up to The X Factor 2016 and has represented Finland three times at Eurovision. Her busy career has also seen her being named the runner-up of The Voice Finland and voicing Princess Anna in the Finnish dub of Frozen. She said of Dancing on Ice: “I have been skating before because I grew up in Finland and we just skated a lot when we grew up. “So, I might think because I’ve skated before, I need to be really good and then I’m doing too much and then I could hurt myself or something.” Saira Khan (Image: ITV) Saira Khan Saira Khan, 48, was the first ever runner-up of The Apprentice in 2005. She has since become a TV presenter best known as a panellist on Loose Women. Sara said of Dancing on Ice: “I can talk my way out of any situation because my mouth is there and I’ve trained it. I can blag my way out of anything. “I cannot blag my way out of ice skating, this is on a blade!” Wes Nelson (Image: ITV) Wes Nelson Wes Nelson, 20, was a contestant on Love Island 2018, where he finished fourth. He was paired with fan favourite Laura for most of the show before switching her for Megan. “I’m just going to do exactly what I did in the villa, which was to be myself and enjoy it for what it is,” he said. “It’s an amazing experience and I’m really lucky and really grateful to be part of it.” Dancing On Ice's most memorable disastersThu, May 17, 2018 Dancing On Ice: The most horrific accidents on the ITV show ITV 1 of 10 Alex Beresford took a tumble in the latest season Who are the Dancing on Ice 2019 couples? The Dancing on Ice 2019 contestants have been paired with the following professionals: Brian McFadden - Alex Murphy Didi Conn - Łukasz Różycki Gemma Collins - Matt Evers James Jordan - Alexandra Schauman Jane Danson - Sylvain Longchambon Mark Little - Brianne Delcourt Melody Thornton - Alexander Demetriou Richard Blackwood - Carlotta Edwards Ryan Sidebottom - Brandee Malto Saara Aalto - Hamish Gaman Saira Khan - Mark Hanretty Wes Nelson - Vanessa BauerThe Dancing on Ice 2019 cast will also include hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, judges Christopher Dean, Jayne Torvill, Ashley Banjo and Jason Gardiner and head coach Karen Barber. Dancing on Ice 2019 starts Sunday, January 6 at 6pm on ITVAll rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility