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Former Dancing On Ice winner reveals that he was rejected for judging role

He certainly has the qualifications!

Having won Dancing On Ice not once but TWICE, Ray Quinn has every right to consider himself king of the rink.

The Scouse star, 29, was crowned champion of the ITV skating show in both 2009 and 2014.

So you can imagine his disappointment when he was TURNED DOWN from a judging role on the new series.

Ray revealed that he had discussions with show bosses about joining Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Jason Gardiner on the panel, before the role went to Diversity star Ashley Banjo.

But the former X Factor contestant insisted that he has no hard feelings whatsoever.

He told the Mirror’s In Reality podcast: “I had a few meetings about judging, but I didn’t get the job.

“I’m made up for them. Ashley has done really well and I think he’s a key part of the panel. I just wish I was on there with them.”

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Ray and his professional partner, Bulgarian skater Maria Filippov, first won Dancing On Ice in 2009, before they reunited to take the crown again in the so-called ‘All-Stars’ series, five years later.

But Ray’s success came at a price, and he suffered a nasty injury on one occasion when one of Maria’s blades caught him square in the head.

He told Good Morning Britain back in November: “I went into rehearsals and as I was lifting her, the skate came down too quick and the back of the blade nicked my head.

“Because it was so cold, it popped open. They had to glue my head together.”

Read more: Dancing On Ice bowing to pressure to bring back fans’ favourite part of the show?

And referring to this year’s contestants, he continued: “They’ve got no idea what they’re letting themselves in for.

“It’s a lot of fun but it’s a challenge, and there are moments you fall and hurt yourself. It’s dangerous – it’s a dangerous sport.”

Dancing On Ice returns this Sunday at 6pm on ITV1.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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