Kirkby's Mark Hanretty confirmed as part of professional line up for Dancing on Ice TV show

The 35-year-old, married dad of two, who lives in the Kirkby area, has been confirmed in the popular show’s line up of professional skaters who will be pairing up with this season’s celebrities ahead of the forthcoming series in 2021.

Mark, who is Scottish born, originally from Glasgow, has represented Great Britain at world and European championships. The 2021 show will be the eighth series he has been involved with, and in 2020, he made the final of the show with registered blind gold medalist paralympian Libby Clegg.

Each week twelve celebrities skate live with their professional partners trying to impress a panel of judges and viewers who ultimately decide who wins.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby present the show and the expert panel is made up of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, John Barrowman and Ashley Banjo, who resume roles as judges.

Mark will join with professionals Matt Evers, Alexandra Schauman and husband Lukasz Rozycki, Hamish Gaman, Brendyn Hatfield and Vanessa Bauer, who will be taking their place alongside the class of 2021.

Former Dancing On Ice alumni Andy Buchanan and wife Robin Johnstone also return. Andy previously skated with Anthea Turner (2013) and Zaraah Abrahams (2014), whilst Robin partnered Gareth Thomas (2013) and Joe Pasquale (2014).

New additions are professional coach and Disney On Ice star Angela Egan, Klabera Komini who is joining the cast as the current reigning champion from Dancing On Ice in the Netherlands and Yebin Mok, is a member of the UK coaching elite and co-founder of Ice Theatre. Yebin is married to last year’s professional skater, doctor and orthopaedic surgeon Tom Naylor.

Completing the line-up are former competitive skaters and Cirque Du Soleil performers Karina Manta and skating partner Joe Johnson, who will lead the professional group performances. The show comes to the screen in 2021.

Mark, who started skating at 19, and occasionally coaches at the National Ice Centre, Nottingham said: “I am thrilled and excited to be on the show again, and to find out who will be my partner this year. Last year was amazing skating with Libby, she was fantastic, she was so good, she had that Paralympian determination to succeed.

"The training again starts in January, and we aim to practice for about two hours a day, but it all depends on the partner’s skills and how well they are doing.”

He added: "I am so grateful to Christopher Dean, and Jayne Torvill too, I know them very well, and they are legends in the world of skating. They have been incredibly supportive to me.

"It’s down to Christopher that I got involved in the show, he encouraged me, and now I am heading for the eighth series. It is just fantastic.“

This year’s celebrities were recently confirmed by the show as Mylene Klass, Joe Warren-Plant, Denise Van Outen, Faye Brooks, Jason Donovan, Sonny Jay, Colin Jackson, Graham Bell, Rebekah Vardy, Lady Leshurr, Billie Faiers and Rufus Hound.

AN ITV spokesperson said: “All of the celebrity and professional skating partnerships are set to be confirmed in due course.”