The DANCING On Ice star dropped out of the 2024 series just days before the series was launched.
The legend of the show stepped in as an emergency replacement for the injured star.
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Dancing on Ice bosses were forced to urgently change the line-up Credit: ITV
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The celebrity line-up has been officially announced and includes a boxing legend, soap stars, a Love Islander and a former Big Brother star Credit: ITV
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Holly Willoughby will return to TV as host with Stephen Mulhern. Credits: ITV
The change was quietly made months after the line-up was first announced back in October and the celebrities were paired with their professional partners.
But the switch was revealed this week when the celebrity and the skaters teamed up for their first set of promotional photos ahead of Sunday’s debut.
The tapes revealed that professional skater Tippy Packard, who joined in 2022, was forced to withdraw from the main line-up and was replaced by Vicky Ogden, who will now skate with Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards in the live shows.
A TV insider told The Sun: “Everyone is mad at Tippy. She’s injured herself in training but we’re all hoping she’ll be back on the show soon.”
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Vicky, who is married to the former EastEnders star, announced the news that she will be skating with Olympic skiing sensation Eddie in an Instagram post.
She shared a photo of them as a couple on ice and wrote: “Exciting announcement!
“Absolutely thrilled to share with you that I will be skating with the amazing Eddie on this season of @dancingonice.
“Eddie The Eagle is a true legend who has won the hearts of fans around the world. This year we are determined to show just how iconic he is.
“Together, let’s recreate the magic and cheer Eddie on like we did all those years ago.
“You ready? 5,6,7,8 Let’s do it, Eddie!”
Fans of the show shared their concern for American-born Tippy, with one writing: “Good luck! I thought she teamed up with Eddie the Eagle, hope she’s ok xx?”
Another said, “Is Tippy all right?”
Vicky made her Dancing on Ice debut in 2012, when she was partnered with Corrie’s Andy Whyment.
Tippy is a three-time Hong Kong national champion and world competitor, and she skated with comedian Darren Harriott at last year’s show.
Meanwhile, Eddie, 59, signed on at the last minute after Gogglebox favorite Stephen Lustig-Webb went down with a broken ankle.
But Eddie – real name Michael Edwards – will certainly be a little more stable on his feet.
A TV source said: “Eddie is a brilliant signing for Dancing on Ice, he is well known and fondly remembered as the British pioneer of ski jumping.
“It’s fair to say he’s probably more at home on the ice than the others, but he’s sixty now, so who knows, he might be weaker than Eagle.”
Eddie’s incredible story earned him a whole new generation of fans when Taron Egerton played him in the 2016 biopic.
The upcoming series will see former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton, Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney, singer Hannah Spearritt, West End star Amber Davies and Olympian Greg Rutherford compete against each other.
Also competing will be TV personality Miles Nazaire, comedian and writer Lou Sanders, actor Ricky Norwood, radio presenter Adele Roberts, actor Ryan Thomas and Emmerdale’s Roxy Shahidi.
Dancing on Ice starts on Sunday at 18.30 on STV and ITVX
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Show star Tippy Packard was forced to pull out at the last minute due to injury
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Tippy teamed up with Darren Credits: Rex
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She was supposed to skate with Eddie The Eagle, but he is now paired with Vicky Ogden who was chosen at the last minute
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