Patsy Palmer hints Dancing on Ice has inspired her to ‘live her dreams’ ahead of show’s return

PATSY Palmer will join Dancing on Ice’s hottest cast to date — saying she wants to push herself after turning 50 last May.

The ex-EastEnders star, famed for her “Rickaaay” cry as Bianca Jackson, fears things could get tricky after she signed up to the ITV show.

She said: “I’ve been asked to do it before, but I was absolutely terrified. The pact I made to myself when I turned 50 is that I have to do things to challenge myself for the next couple of years.

“This is for all the 50-year-olds who think they can’t do this — I’m actually quite scared now. Live your dreams!”

The actress now lives a world away from Walford and co-star Sid Owen’s Ricky Butcher character.

She spends her days with yoga and meditation at home in Malibu, California, where she works as a DJ.

But she has been training for Dancing on Ice in the UK and is pictured for the first time in full skate regalia before the show returns a week on Sunday.

Patsy is joined by Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu, singer Michelle Heaton, former Hollyoaks actress Carley Stenson, Corrie’s Mollie Gallagher, plus drag queen The Vivienne.

Ex-footie ace John Fashanu, TV’s Joey Essex, boy band The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran, comic Darren Harriott and gymnast Nile Wilson complete the line-up.

They will skate for a full audience for the first time since before the pandemic.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield return as hosts, with Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse as judges.