Ferne McCann says Dancing On Ice has changed her as she tells of new ambitions

Ferne McCann says Dancing On Ice has already given her a body makeover and seen her develop glutes to die for. Ahead of her first performance on the opening show, she said: “Every shoot I’ve done leading up to Dancing on Ice, all of my friends have been going, ‘Ferne, your booty!’

“It’s because you’re constantly squatting and bending down the whole time on your bent knees, so it’s been amazing exercise. I’ve just got fitter and more supple, the more training I’ve done,”

Ferne, who is performing on the ITV show with pro partner Brendyn Hatfield, has her sights on doing well on the show and is not making up the numbers after putting the hours in. She said: “I had a bit of a shock on the first day, which shook me, because you can catch your toe pick and fly forward, but since then, it’s been all good and I can’t wait for the show to start. It’s been amazing so far, and everyone else on the show is amazing. There are some incredible contestants, and everyone’s got their own strengths. Obviously I’m backing myself, but we’ll see what happens. Some people bring humour, some people bring technicality and for me it’d just be amazing to even make the final.”

And Ferne, who has also appeared on Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins, also revealed that whatever the DOI outcome, she’s got her sights set on the silver screen.

This year’s Dancing On Ice line up, including Ferne
(
ITV)

She said: “In 2025 I’m going to explore acting opportunities, and I’d love to do something really cool and produce something and create a film legacy… maybe a movie of my life. Starring me. Why not? I’ve got a good story to tell, and I’d like to feature in it too, but I wouldn’t want to play me.

“Maybe Florence Pugh could play me. I love her. I’ve already done an off West End performance in Gatsby, and I’ve always loved performing, so Dancing on Ice is going to give me that chance to perform, so watch this space. And I can actually see myself as an action heroine although I’d need a good director,” admits Ferne, who has already worked with the Academy Award winning director of the quadruple Oscar winning 2010 movie The Kings Speech, Tom Hooper.

“I worked with Tom on a short film called Drama vs Reality in 2021, showcasing ITV’s drama and reality content where they merged reality with drama, and it was unbelievable. I was basically firing a machine gun out of a helicopter. It was sensational, and Tom said that out all the reality stars that filmed that advert, I was the one he’d work with again, and that I’d make a pretty good action star. So, there you go. Watch out Lara Croft.”

And whether it’s doing triple axels on the ice, shooting machine guns out of helicopters or attending board meetings for the Shoorah mental health app she runs with her fiancé Lorri Haynes, work will be front and central for Ferne in 2025 alongside being mum to 18-month-old Finty and seven-year-old Sunday from past relationship with criminal ex Arthur Collins.

“I love being part of a team and I’ve had amazing opportunities through my career,” she said. “My life would be so boring and depressing if I didn’t have my work. It’s so fun to go and work and explore what you’re good at, what are your strengths, and how you can monetize that.

“I’ve never had to rely on a man and I couldn’t imagine having to and that’s what I want for my own daughters. I’ve got a few friends whose parents are wealthy, and they do nothing but travel the world, and I think, ‘how does that not get boring?”

One thing Ferne won’t be doing any time soon though is turning up to board meetings dressed in a power suit. “I did that for my first two board meetings, because it was a new world and place for me,” said Ferne, who stepped down as COO last October to concentrate on Dancing on Ice.

“As much as I’m a big advocate of mental health and I was creating the app that speaks to various people in the field I just felt so inadequate and experienced real imposter syndrome, but then I realised it’s better to just show up as yourself and play to your strengths.”

* Dancing On Ice is on ITV on Sunday nights and available to watch on ITVX.