X Factor and Eurovision star Saara Aalto signs up for Dancing On Ice
X Factor star Saara Aalto has signed up for Dancing On Ice, The Sun's Bizarre TV column can reveal.
The singer, who also represented her native Finland at Eurovision, will compete on the ITV show next year.
A source said: "After Jake Quickenden won the show last year bosses were keen to sign up another X Factor star.
"They're sure Saara's showmanship and bubbly personality will translate to the rink and are delighted she said yes."
Saara joins a stellar line-up on the rebooted series' second instalment, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
Towie star Gemma Collins was confirmed as the first celebrity to be having a crack, after The Sun revealed she would participate.
Comedian and former EastEnders star Richard Blackwood was the second celebrity to be announced.
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Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan, former Westlife singer Brian McFadden, Loose Women's Saira Khan, former international cricketer Ryan Sidebottom and ex-Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton and Oz actor Mark Little have all since joined.
Saara, who came close to beating Matt Terry to the 2016 X Factor title, will don skates in January 2019 — when the show is expected to begin.
The self-confessed "snow fairy" was voted Finnish Person Of The Year following her stint on the ITV singing show.
Before launching to stardom she came second in Finland's Got Talent in 2007 and The Voice of Finland in 2012, as well as voicing numerous telly characters.
Saara, picked by Nicole Scherzinger as a wildcard act to get through to the live shows, has been composing music since the age of five and represented Finland in the Eurovision song contest in 2011.
In October 2016, The Sun revealed that Sara had called off a nine-year relationship with Finnish singing superstar Teemu Roivainen to begin dating a gay female fan, Meri Sopanen.
The couple, who got engaged in August 2016, were at the centre of some controversy after the X Factor was accused of homophobia for not giving Meri any airtime in the semi-final of the show.
Meanwhile, Dancing on Ice proved a real hit with viewers since its return following a three-year break, after initially running from 2006 until 2014 and not returning until 2018.
Siobhan Greene, ITV's Head of Entertainment Commissioning, said "The show’s welcome back has exceeded our expectations and it’s been fantastic to see the audience at home loving it.
"The recommission is a no brainer and it’s brilliant for everyone involved to know it’ll be back next year."