Sp-Ice Girl

10/10/2009

SPICE Girl EMMA BUNTON is doing a CHERYL COLE and becoming a judge - on TV hit Dancing on Ice.

ITV bosses hope the blonde ice girl will attract younger viewers and add sex appeal when the fifth series returns to our screens next year.

A TV insider said: "She's about to sign the deal. She's a brilliant signing. She's fun, sexy and very opinionated. She'll add some much-needed pop glamour like Cheryl when she joined X Factor."

Emma, 33, is replacing theatre veteran RUTHIE HENSHALL, 42, who quit in the summer. But ITV chiefs are confident there'll be no blacklash like when ALESHA DIXON ousted oldie ARLENE PHILIPS from Strictly Come Dancing. Ex-Strictly finalist Emma has no pro ice skating experience but that doesn't bother me. Bitchy judge JASON GARDINER is the best thing on the show and he's never strapped on a pair of skates either.

The insider added: "Emma does have great dancing experience because of her time in the Spice Girls and did very well on Strictly."

And she's no virgin judge. She judged on Eurovision: Your Country Needs You and Let's Dance For Comic Relief and last year helped Dannii Minogue choose her X Factor acts.