Joining Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid live on Good Morning Britain to announce the news she said: "My dad taught me how to stand up on a pair of skates when I was about seven years old." "He used to take us to the local ice rink so it's a really fun family thing for us to have done together and I'm really excited actually." "The only time I've been ice skating since is when we take the kids to our local ice rink at Christmas to have a really good time."

Speaking about her family's reaction she said husband Jamie "thinks it's such a brilliant idea. He's really looking forward to watching me and says he hopes I don’t fall over too much.” She said she showed son Taylor a clip of one of the headbangers being performed on the show and shared his response: “he just looked at me and said mum, there’s no way you can do that. You’re going to hurt yourself and I went don’t worry I’ll be fine!”

She added that she starts training "in a couple of weeks so really looking forward to getting my teeth into that. I’m going to give my 100% effort for it all."

Vardy is the latest celebrity to join the competition and follows the previously announced Myleene Klass, Joe-Warren Plant, Denise Van Outen, Faye Brookes, Jason Donovan, Sonny Jay, Graham Bell and Colin Jackson CBE.

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.