Who is the Dancing On Ice commentator for 2019? Meet talkSPORT host Sam Matterface
SAM Matterface took over Dancing On Ice commentating duties in 2018 and has returned for the 2019 series.
When Matt Chapman decided to quit after just one week, Sam stepped in. Here's what we know about the talkSPORT and ITV commentator...
Who is Sam Matterface?
A lifelong Chelsea fan Sam is a very familiar face and voice to football fans across the country.
After a period at Sky Sports News, where he met his now ex-wife Natalie Sawyer, Sam headed for radio and is one of talkSPORT's star commentators.
Sam began his career as a volunteer on local hospital radio in 1992 before going on to work in various local radio roles.
In 2007 he joined Sky Sports News as a TV anchor and his work brought him into contact with Sawyer - whom he married before the pair divorced in 2014.
They have a son called Sawyer Matterface who was born in October 2010.
Over the years for talkSPORT Sam has commentated on the biggest games in football and was working the night his beloved Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012 after a dramatic final against Bayern Munich.
He is also commentated on TV for ITV at the World Cup and the European Championships.
Why did Matt Chapman leave Dancing On Ice?
Matt joined Dancing On Ice as the show's commentator for the rebooted 2018 but then left the ITV programme after just one show.
A Dancing on Ice source told The Sun's Bizarre column: "Matt decided he couldn’t make his diary quite work as he thought.
"He’s a big character and a talented sports commentator but he had some mixed reviews in the first show, and he told ITV that perhaps it wasn’t for him after all."
The Sun then revealed that ITV had snapped up Sam as his replacement.
A telly source said: "Sam is a talented commentator.
"There’s a certain art when it comes to radio commentary – so he's more than qualified.
"He was the natural presenter and he’s got a face not just for radio."
When is Dancing On Ice 2018 on TV?
Series 11 launched on Sunday, January 6, and continues TONIGHT at 6pm on ITV.
It will be available on ITV player after the show has aired.