Olympic gymnast and Liverpool John Moores University alumnus, Beth Tweddle, will be appearing as a contestant on Dancing On Ice from January.
The 27-year-old, who was given an Honorary Fellowship by LJMU last month, joins Liverpool’s Keith Chegwin on the show, but Tweddle does not fancy her chances.
She told the Chester Chronicle: “I am rubbish at dancing. There is dancing within gymnastics, but that’s not natural dance to me, it’s literally been instructed to me as steps I’ve followed. I really am not a natural dancer.”
She added: “My first biggest task is breaking away from my natural stance in gymnastics, I was told I needed to change my positioning as it’s totally opposite to what I’ve trained in.”
Beth graduated from LJMU in 2007 with a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Sciences, and has competed in three Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal on the uneven bars at London 2012.
The early favourite to win, according to Ladbrokes, the South-African born gymnast will be partnered with professional dancer Dan Whiston, who has won the competition twice, with actresses Gaynor Faye and Hayley Tammadon.
Keith Chegwin will also be taking part in the show. It will be the second time for the Bootle-born comedian, having had to pull out last year after breaking his ribs during training. The 55-year-old will be skating with Olga Sharutenko.
Other celebrities appearing in this year’s show, which begins on January 6, include Coronation Street star Samia Ghadie, former X Factor winner Shayne Ward and ex-Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson.