Dancing On Ice judging panel revealed
02/12/2012
ITV has announced the new judging panel for the hit entertainment show Dancing On Ice 2012.
TV personality Louie Spence and twice Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt will be joining resident head judge Robin Cousins on the ice panel when the show returns in the New Year.
Head coach Karen Barber will be back to offer her expertise and support to the show’s celebrity skaters.
Acclaimed chorographer Louie Spence will draw on his wealth of experience in dance and choreography to offer his critique on the celebrity’s’ performances. Currently the artistic director at Pineapple studios, Louie has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars including, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Mariah Carey, before becoming a household name with the observational series based at internationally renowned Pineapple Dance Studios.
An original member of the award winning cast of Miss Saigon, he earned the coveted title of Primo Ballerino and danced with stars including Whitney Houston and Tina Turner. In 2008 Louie was one of the trio of judges on the successful NBC prime-time show Celebrity Circus and was voted as one of the top ten reality show judges in America.
Katarina Witt dominated figure skating for over a decade winning a legion of medals and making her one of the most successful figure skaters of all time. She won Olympic golds in both the 1984 Sarajevo (the same year as Torvill and Dean’s legendary Bolero gold medal win) and 1988 Calgary Olympics. She retains the record of most consecutive European titles, sharing it with fellow skater Sonja Henie.
After retiring from competitive skating, the former model has continued to entertain audiences appearing in Holiday on Ice, and also made the leap into acting winning an Emmy for her title role in 1990 film Carmen on Ice. She has since been inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Louie Spence said: “I’m looking forward to being part of such a challenging and spectacular show and can’t wait to give my encouragement and critique on the contestants’ dance and performance on the ice.”
Katarina Witt said: “I can’t wait to join the Dancing On Ice judging panel. As well as offering support and constructive advice to this years’ celebrity skaters I’m also looking forward to working alongside my close friends Torvill and Dean.
Layla Smith, Controller of Entertainment, ITV said: “We are thrilled to welcome Louie and Katarina to the new Dancing On Ice panel. The pair have a wealth of experience which they will be bringing to the new series. Their unique flare and passion for their professions will doubtless make for some interesting debates.
“We’d like to thank Emma Bunton and Jason Gardiner for their valued contribution during previous series and wish them both all the best with their future projects.”
Dancing On Ice is an ITV Studios production for ITV1. Commissioned by Elaine Bedell, Director of Entertainment and Comedy at ITV, Layla Smith, Controller of Entertainment at ITV and Executive Produced by Glenn Coomber and Katie Rawcliffe at ITV Studios.
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