Dancing On Ice winner James Jordan says ‘they don’t need to get on’ in ITV verdict

and returned on Sunday night for .

The show contestants included Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave and he was later joined on the ice by a trio of soap actors in Chelsea Healey (Goldie from Hollyoaks), Sam Aston (Chesney from ) and Charlie Brooks (aka Janine from ).

They were joined by naturalist Michaela Strachan, former footballer Anton Ferdinand and comedian Josh Jones. Reality stars also joined the lineup from The Only Way Is Essex, Dan Edgar and Ferne McCann, Love Islander Chris Taylor and Mollie Pearce, who starred in The Traitors.

Of the 11 celebrity pairings only six made it onto the ice for last night’s launch.

James, 46, has since delivered his verdict on the show contestants and their pairings, claiming neither “need to get on” behind the scenes in order to progress in the competition, although he is a firm believer that good chemistry good see them claim show victory.

Speaking to Express Online on behalf of , he shared: “I think it’s important to have chemistry with your partner, but I don’t think it’s imperative.

I know people that have won before that didn’t particularly get on that well and they still won the show, but it does make the whole experience much nicer.”

He continued: “I was fortunate that when I did , I genuinely got on with all my partners well. I know people think I’m this hard, tough, outspoken guy but I got on so well with all my partners. But I don’t think it’s necessary.

“If you have two people that match when they are dancing or ice skating, they don’t need to get on.”

He added: “In the competitive world I know people that compete, who hate each other’s guts, and they are amazing because at the end of the day you are doing a job.

In all the years I did there was only ever one or two people that had issues, generally most of the people seemed to get on well, some more than others.”

Dancing On Ice returns to ITV on Sunday at 6.30pm