Dancing On Ice judge Christopher Dean has said he thinks the show’s panel will “feel fresh and different again” following John Barrowman’s exit.
John was a judge on the ITV show from 2020 but there was speculation about his seat on the panel following claims of inappropriate behaviour on the set of other programmes.
In October, it was announced that the actor wouldn’t be back for DOI 2022 – but skating legend Christopher has now said he has high hopes for the new line-up.
“I think whatever the judging panel is going to be – I’m not going to tell you that yet, it’s a surprise,” he told RadioTimes.com.
“But you know, John was wonderful and brought a lot of energy.
“But I think we’ll maintain that with the new panel. And I think it’ll feel fresh and different again, so we’re excited.”
The upcoming series will see stars including Kimberly Wyatt, Brendan Cole and Rachel Stevens strapping on their skates.
Christopher’s ice-dancing partner Jayne Torvill predicted it would be a great year.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a show where we’ve started with such a high standard as we will do this year,” she said.
Earlier this year it was reported that John – who played Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood – had been accused of exposing himself on both sets, as a prank.
The star admitted it but said the behaviour was “tomfoolery” and that he understood it was no longer acceptable.
Speaking on Lorraine last month, he said: “We were like a family working together, the fact that it was stories that I’ve already told… I’ve been telling them for years.
“I haven’t hidden anything, they’ve been exaggerated and they’ve tried to turn it into sexual harassment which it absolutely is not.
“The one thing for me [is that] all the people that are making the fuss about it, they weren’t there, they don’t know the context of things that were done.
“I would never do it now but what we’re not allowing people and myself to do – with the continued bashing – is to learn to adapt and to change, that’s the most important thing.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
