Daily Star Sunday

JOHN: I’LL GIVE COLD TRUTH TO BAD ACTS

Star is new Mr Nasty

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JOHN Barrowman is set to be the new Mr Nasty on Dancing On Ice.

Bosses hired him to replace controvers­ial judge Jason Gardiner.

And he has vowed that he will be just as tough on competitor­s.

John, 52, said: “I’m not going to be a wimp. I’m going to be critical.

“If the contestant­s are crap, I’ll tell them they’re crap. But I’ll do it in a polite way to motivate them.

“I’m looking for commitment, I’m looking for a good work ethic and I’m looking for them entertaini­ng.

“If their partnershi­ps aren’t good and they’re not entertaini­ng and not stepping up to the plate, then they’re going to hear from me and they’re going to be told.

“And no-one is going to get away from the wobbly knees. I have seen some of the celebritie­s skate and there are a few who are absolutely ready for the first show and a few who need to put in more hours.

“I have had a lot of them coming up to me and I’ve made comments to a couple of them about bending their knees and they’ve looked at me and

said: ‘Oh.’

“It’s good for them to have a little fear.” John has judged a string of shows, including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a musical star Any

Dream Will Do. He was also a contestant in the first series of Dancing On Ice back in 2006.

He said: “I think I’ll be a good judge. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been a contestant myself, and according to Christophe­r Dean and Jayne Torvill I was one of the best skaters.

“I know about the skating aspect and there’s also the performanc­e aspect to this show.

“I’ve been in the business for 30 years in musicals and TV and the recording industry. I kind of know what I’m talking about.”

Gobby Jason, 48, was on the judging panel for 10 series and helped pull in ratings of up to 11million.

But now he’s gone, bosses are hoping John will prove to be even more popular.

He said: “I don’t have any pressure to fill

Jason’s shoes because my feet are bigger.

“And I don’t need advice.”

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