DJ and cancer survivor Adele Roberts has been named as one of Dancing On Ice’s contestants for the upcoming 2024 series.
She has admitted the show will be a ‘big challenge’ but cannot wait for her step back into the spotlight after getting the ‘all clear’ from doctors after her cancer battle.
The ITV hit show’s 16th edition – this time hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern – starts later this month.
Joining Adele on the rink are 11 other famous faces including Michael ‘Eddie The Eagle’ Edwards, Amber Davies and Ricky Hatton.
Read more about Adele below, including details of her cancer journey.
Adele Roberts is one of 12 celebs taking to the ice rink this month in ITV’s Dancing On Ice
Adele announced that she had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2021: ‘Hoping it’ll reach anyone who might benefit from seeing it or reading it’
Adele is a reality star, radio DJ and presenter who worked at the BBC for over a decade before quitting last summer
Who is Adele Roberts?
Adele Roberts is a radio DJ, presenter and reality TV star from Southport, Lancashire, who was born on March 9, 1979.
She made her name on the third series of Big Brother, finishing in seventh place in 2002, and landed her first radio job soon after with Rock FM in Lancashire.
The presenter returned to Big Brother for a cameo in the show’s eighth series a year after moving to Galaxy in 2006 – which has since become part of Capital FM.
From there she made the move to Radio 1Xtra in 2012 and by 2015 she was the host of Radio 1’s Early Breakfast show which boasts hugely successful alumni such as Greg James, Scott Mills and Chris Moyles.
She has also appeared on-screen for the BBC, presenting some of the broadcaster’s sports coverage including for the London Marathon.
Adele made another foray into reality TV in 2019 on the 19th series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! but was the first to be eliminated after just 13 days.
In January 2021, she scored the Weekend Breakfast gig on Radio 1 after a shakeup in the station’s schedule.
Later that year, in October 2021, Adele announced that she would be taking a break from the studio after a stage 2 bowel cancer diagnosis.
Adele made her name on the third series of Big Brother, in 2002, finishing in seventh place
The DJ ( seen with Nadine Coyle, left, and Caitlyn Jenner, right) returned to reality TV in 2019 on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Adele Roberts’ battle with cancer
Adele posted on Instagram to share her story, ‘hoping it’ll reach anyone who might benefit from seeing it or reading it’.
Later in 2021, she underwent colostomy surgery to remove a tumour from her bowel and said she had ‘turned a corner’.
She later revealed the cancer had been growing inside her for 10 years.
Adele made sure to praise the NHS, urging anyone with symptoms to see their GP, adding she had been ’embarrassed’ to seek help after suffering digestion issues and felt ‘lucky’ that her cancer was still treatable when it was found since ‘early detection can save your life’.
After starting chemotherapy, Adele detailed the treatment’s early side-effects which by December 2021 included a metallic taste in her mouth, swollen fingers and sore teeth.
The star added that she intended to try and continue with her daily life, saying: ‘I’m going to do my very best to carry on as normal as possible and see what this body can do.’
To make matters worse, Adele tested positive for Covid-19 in February 2022.
Nine months after being diagnosed, and after receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, Adele was declared cancer free, and now lives with a stoma bag, which she has named Audrey.
A colostomy diverts one end of the colon (part of the bowel) through an opening (stoma) in the tummy. A pouch is placed over the stoma to collect faeces.
‘This little stoma bag saved my life,’ Adele posted after her initial surgery.
She is now a trailblazer holding the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run after an ileostomy – finishing the 2023 London Marathon in a personal best time of 3 hours, 30 minutes and 22 seconds.
She had run the event prior to her diagnosis in 2017 and 2018. Adele is now the first person with a stoma bag to ever compete in Dancing On Ice.
Adele broke the world record for the fastest marathon run by someone after an ileostomy, finishing the 2023 London Marathon in 3 hours, 30 minutes and 22 seconds
Adele and her fiancé Kate Holderness (pictured with Adele) received praise for an ‘inspirational’ clip where the actress changed her partner’s stoma bag
Who is Adele Roberts’ girlfriend?
Adele credited her fiancé, actress Kate Holderness, with nursing her through her cancer battle.
The pair first met in 2014 when mutual friends introduced them, but it was not until 2016 that their relationship became public knowledge.
Kate flew out to Australia in 2019 to support her partner when she left the jungle.
In 2022, Adele was filmed at home with her partner Kate who helped the star changed her stoma bag.
The candid moment was labelled ‘inspirational’ by viewers.
The actress was born in February 1984 and is also a Lancashire native – coming from Preston.
Kate began her career aged just 13 and has had parts in Emmerdale, Coronation Street and historical mini-series Elizabeth I.
The couple have also appeared on-screen together – presenting BBC series Friday Night Fakeaway and winning E4’s 2020 series of Celebrity Coach Trip.
The former Big Brother star is now the first person with a stoma bag to ever compete in Dancing On Ice
What has she said about being on Dancing On Ice?
Having quit BBC Radio 1 in June last year, Adele was announced a few months later as Dancing On Ice’s 10th contestant for its New Year series.
Speaking on Lorraine, she said: ‘Two years ago today I’d just been diagnosed with bowel cancer. I didn’t know what stage cancer I had at the time. I didn’t know if I was going to live or die.
‘To think, two years on I’m sat here with you [Lorraine Kelly] talking about Dancing on Ice – it’s the greatest feeling in the world.’
Adele admitted it would be a ‘big challenge’ to get in the public eye, but she can’t wait for ‘the glam’ on the show.
She added: ‘It’s ”bricking it on ice” for me! I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away.
‘I did radio as it’s not visual. That’s going to be a big challenge. After cancer I have my life back; I actually can’t wait!’
DANCING ON ICE: MEET THE 2024 CONTESTANTS
RICKY HATTON
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: Former pro boxer
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink’
HANNAH SPEARRITT
AGE: 42
PROFESSION: SINGER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill. It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing’
GREG RUTHERFORD
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Athlete
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I like a challenge and I needed a reason to go out and do stuff again and here we are. I want to perform something that’s never been done before, that’s my aim.’
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
AGE: 59
PROFESSION: OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!’
RICKY NORWOOD
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: EastEnders star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘It’s come at such a great time in life. I can’t skate at all! No rehearsals as yet, I’ve just had some physiotherapy to strengthen the body.’
RYAN THOMAS
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: Corrie star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Everyone keeps asking me, “are you doing it?” I’ve told everyone!’
CLAIRE SWEENEY
AGE: 52
PROFESSION: ACTRESS
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
AMBER DAVIES
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: WEST END STAR
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them’
MILES NAZAIRE
AGE: 27
PROFESSION: REALITY STAR
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I’ve always loved to dance but it’s usually on a dance floor on a Saturday night and Dancing on Ice looks so difficult.’
LOU SANDERS
AGE: 37
PROFESSION: COMEDIAN
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m nervous about cracking my head open, or just bashing the old head. I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.’
ADELE ROBERTS
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: RADIO PRESENTER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘It’s ”bricking it on ice” for me! I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away’
ROXY SHAHIDI
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: Emmerdale star
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I can’t ice-skate. I haven’t really said anything to anyone but mainly because I’m so nervous about it!’
