Michelle Heaton is "truly grateful" to be taking part in 'Dancing on Ice' after achieving sobriety.
Michelle Heaton on joining Dancing on Ice
The 43-year-old pop star - who has been married to businessman Hugh Hanley since 2010 and has daughter Faith, 10, and eight-year-old son Aaron with him - battled through alcohol addiction but has now been sober for over a year and is "so excited" to hit the rink when the series returns to screens in early 2023.
"I'm so excited. I can't believe it. Me and the kids are such fans of the show in general, we watch every series. I've always wanted to do it and I've always kind of had my name in the mix but I know that I would never have been able to complete anything because of the way my body was and the way that I was 18 months ago so I'm really truly grateful that I didn't get it back then and I've got it this year when I'm a lot stronger and able - hopefully - to commit to it and do everything that I can."
The 'Just a Little' hitmaker went on to explain that "everything is clear" since she gave up alcohol and urged any fans who may be struggling that they can also find the same "strength" that she did to conquer addiction.
Speaking on ITV's 'Lorraine', she said: "I can't believe I was here 16 months ago telling my story and what had been happening to me and how I needed to focus on the future. But now we're here and I feel so lucky. The colours came back and everything is clear. I'm just really focused on the time ahead with 'Dancing on Ice.' The kids are so buzzing - Faith came up to me when I found out I had it and she said 'I'm so proud of you mummy' and it's just so beautiful that she is proud of mummy for what I was and what I am now and it just shows strength. I hope anybody watching, where I was and where I am now, if I can do something like this, then you can too. There is help."
The former Liberty X singer went on to joke that while she has "absolutely no idea" what she is doing, she has been on the ice a "couple of times" already and is looking forward to getting her custom-made boots on.
She added: "I definitely can't skate! I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing, that's the honesty of it. I'm not a skater. I've been on the ice a couple of times just to audition and get my feet moving. But tomorrow is officially the first day in my skates that they got made me with everybody else so that's the first time that I'm going to be on the ice, realistically."
Michelle joins a lineup that includes 'Drag Race' contestant The Vivienne, former 'EastEnders' actress Patsy Palmer, football legend John Fashanu, 'Love Island' star Ekin-Su Culculoglu, ex-'Hollyoaks' star Carley Stenson, Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson and Coronation Street's Mollie Gallagher.
Tagged in Carley Stenson Lorraine Kelly Michelle Heaton