Actor and comedian Rufus Hound is the twelfth celebrity skater confirmed to take part in Dancing on Ice 2021.

Announcing the news on Martin and Roman's Sunday Best (ITV, 8.30am Sundays) this morning, Rufus joked: "I'm doing it for the money. I don't know if you've heard but about six months ago this global pandemic hit and made just about everything I've ever done to earn a pound note disappear! And so this point has arrived and they said 'we'll pay you' and I said 'do you know something? I love ice skating!" 

He went on to say: "Training starts in a couple of weeks. I've spent the last twenty years in the pub mainly!" 

Sincerely, he added: "the God's honest truth is, and [gesturing to Martin Kemp] you're actually a magnificent example of this, as life goes on you find yourself at a moment where you go right I could do this, I could do that, I could have a go and actually the adventure of it is doing things that you might start off thinking not in a million years and then fate conspires and you end up doing the most fun things."

Martin Kemp encouraged Rufus saying "I think you've got a really good chance." Rufus responded "Do you? Have you seen who else is doing it? Olympians!"

Rufus Hound completes the 2021 line-up as he joins the previously announced Myleene Klass, Joe-Warren Plant, Denise Van Outen, Faye Brookes, Jason Donovan, Sonny Jay, Rebekah Vardy, Graham Bell, Colin Jackson CBE, Lady Leshurr and Billie Shepherd.

Returning to ITV in the new year, each week twelve celebrities will skate live with their professional partners as they try to impress both the panel and the viewers who will ultimately decide who wins the show. 

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby once again return to present the show and the expert panel of Torvill and Dean, John Barrowman and Ashley Banjo will all resume their roles as judges.