Entertainment
John Barrowman’s All Star Musicals back for two specials after exit from Dancing On Ice
John Barrowman is coming back to TV (Picture: Rex Features/ITV/Kieron McCarron/Shutterstock)
John Barrowman is set to return to our screens later this year after being sacked from Dancing on Ice following allegations earlier this year about his behaviour on the set of Doctor Who and Torchwood.
ITV has confirmed that the star will hold on to his gig presenting All Star Musicals and that the show is returning for two more specials.
Starting this winter with All Star Musicals at Christmas, the programme will see Barrowman take on presenting duties.
In each episode, six celebrities will compete to be crowned All Star Musicals Champion after performing accompanied but a full West End ensemble and receiving the best coaching from the best choreographers and vocal coaches the London theatre scene has to offer.
Sitting by Elaine Paige’s side to judge the entire affair will be Samantha Barks and Trevor Dion Nicholas.
John will also team up with the judging trio to perform the opening act in both episodes.
Elaine Paige, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Samantha Barks return as judges (Picture: ITV/Kieron McCarron/REX)
After kicking off during the holiday period, a second episode is set to air in 2022.
The broadcaster did not yet reveal who will take part the two upcoming shows but we’re likely to find out very soon.
Talking about the show’s return, John said: ‘We’re back with not one, but two helpings of this feel-good and fabulous musical affair and I can’t wait to show audiences what we have in store this time around.’
‘I can’t wait to be reunited with my fellow panellists as we get treated to front row seats to a night of festive entertainment,’ said Elaine.
‘Expect higher stakes as more celebrities take to the stage to battle it out for the title of All Star Musicals Champion. Not to mention, there’s a few surprise performances along the way…’
John was let go from his Dancing on Ice judging gig (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/REX)
The decision to let him go was apparently not linked to his Doctor Who and Torchwood allegations (Picture: BBC Studios/James Pardon)
Commenting on John’s departure from Dancing on Ice, announced earlier this month, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘We thank John Barrowman for two brilliant years on the Dancing On Ice panel and are pleased to be working with him again as host of the forthcoming All Star Musicals specials.’
His departure comes months after he said he had taken part in ‘tomfoolery’ on the sets of BBC shows Doctor Who and Torchwood but stressed that it was never intended to be sexual in nature.
Two former runners on the programmes alleged that the actor ‘would get his genitals out on a regular basis’ while on set, although stressed that it was ‘larking about’ and not sexually predatory behaviour.
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However, an ITV source told Metro.co.uk last week: ‘Contrary to some reports, John has not been “sacked” from Dancing on Ice for the reasons outlined.
‘On any long running series like Dancing on Ice, every few series a decision is made to refresh the panel as is the case here, and we continue to work with John as host of All Star Musicals at ITV.’
All Star Musicals returns to ITV later this year.
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