Ashley Banjo reveals Dancing On Ice are considering ditching studio audience for next series
ASHLEY Banjo says Dancing On Ice may ditch a studio audience for their next series.
The judge on the ITV skating show reckons bosses will take the drastic safety measure to minimise the risk of coronavirus.
Dancing On Ice has invited members of the public to watch the weekly spectacle of celebs on the ice since it came on air 12 years ago.
But next year they may be banned - for the first time ever.
Ashley, 31, says: "Discussions about Dancing On Ice have already started and they are talking about not having an audience right now."
Training on the show, which was won by actor Joe Swash and pro skater Alex Murphy this year, will start in the autumn. with filming beginning in January.
Producers are currently trying to find a crop of celebs to star on the show when it returns next year - though there are only 12 places up for grabs.
And stars including Emmerdale actors Alexander Lincoln and Joe-Warren Plant are battling it out for a place on Dancing On Ice's next series.
But The Diversity frontman was excited to hear that among those trying out for the show is Drag Race star Baga Chipz.
“The show is good for having ‘firsts’ and we’ve never had a drag queen... well not any that we know!" he added to .
Other big names including Coronation Street's Sally Dyvenor, were seen arriving with the pair at auditions in Manchester for the hit series.
They are the second wave of stars turning up for auditions after 17 celebs including Denise Van Outen and Wayne Bridge auditioned for the southern auditions in Slough, Berkshire last week.
With TV work scarce during the virus pandemic, insiders said there was an “undercurrent of competition” on the rink.
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A source said: “Everyone was in high spirits and excited to be working again.
“Places on a primetime show are lucrative and contestants get a huge career boost by taking part.
“There are likely to be other auditions for celebrities based in more remote areas, and even abroad.”