Karen Barber is set to return to ‘Dancing on Ice’ in 2019, reuniting her with old foe, Jason Gardiner.
The silver medalist skater will resume the role of Head Coach on the recently revived ITV series, following a five-year break.
She said in a statement (via Digital Spy): “It’s a joy to return to ‘Dancing on Ice’ as Head Coach.
“Having been involved with the show since its very first series, it holds a lot of special memories to me and I’m looking forward to working with this year’s celebrities as we start transforming them into skating stars.”
After the announcement, viewers will be wondering if Karen will once again clash with Jason, after their famous on-air spat in 2011.
The controversial TV moment, which came after Karen was reassigned from the judging panel to Head Coach, saw Jason shun her take on one routine, saying: “If your opinion mattered you’d still be on the judging panel.”
Presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were left lost for words as Karen shouted at Jason: “You really are offensive, you bring so little to this panel.”
Squabbles between the two continued as Karen returned to the final for the then-final series in 2014, with discussions about scores and the quality of skating often getting a bit more personal.
The show was revived after a four-year hiatus earlier this year with Jason, Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo on the panel.
While the 2019 line-up is still to be confirmed, ITV hasn’t given any indiction Jason - often dubbed “Mr Nasty” - will not return, so expect to see their unfinished business play out on screen.
In her role as Head Coach, Karen will be responsible for helping the star-studded skating line-up shape their weekly routines, with celebrities rumoured to include ‘Love Island’ contestant Wes Nelson and former ‘EastEnders’ star Richard Blackwood.
