John Barrowman is proud that \'Dancing on Ice\' will be the first show to feature a same-sex partnership.
Steps singer Ian \'H\' Watkins will skate with professional Matt Evers when the ITV talent show returns to screens in early 2020 and the former \'Doctor Who\' star - who is joining the programme as a judge - thinks bosses have done a great thing by paring them up and he can\'t wait to see what routines they come up with.
In an interview on \'This Morning\', John said: "I think it\'s amazing and congratulations to \'Dancing On Ice\' and ITV for being the first in the UK to have same-sex couples. Let\'s do it this way and be supportive as a community."
The 52-year-old actor is replacing acid-tongued Jason Gardiner ion the panel and ex \'I\'m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!\' contestant intends to be "harsh but not mean" in his critiques of the celebrities taking part.
He said: "I think I\'m going to be fair, I\'m going to be harsh but not mean. I\'m going to be critical about the performance. I don\'t mind mistakes as long as the performance is good."
John competed in the very first series of \'Dancing On Ice\' back in 2006 and was the fourth person to be eliminated.
He revealed that his fellow judges, Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Karen Barber, haven\'t forgotten his stint on the rink.
John said: "The joke between us right now is that I will make it to the end of the series!"
