AN East Lancashire soap star will get his skates on this weekend as he stars in Dancing on Ice.

Edenfield's Antony Cotton will swap the cobbled streets of Weatherfield for ice as he takes part in the ITV show on Sunday at 9pm.

Mr Cotton, 42, who went to Woodhey High School in Holcombe Brook, will be teaming up with professional American skater Brandee Malto.

Original hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will make a return to the show, which last aired in 2014 with an all-star version

The other celebrity dancers include Donna Air, Cheryl Baker, Alex Beresford, Candice Brown, Kem Cetinay, Max Evans, Lemar, Jake Quickenden, Perri Shakes-Drayton, Brooke Vincent and Stephanie Waring.

The judges include Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Jason Gardiner and Ashley Banjo.

Mr Cotton said he could not wait to get on the ice.

He said: "The most appealing thing genuinely is that I'm very competitive and that I enjoy a challenge.

"I'm most looking forward to the learning process. I'm a great believer that you never stop learning.

"I am really shy normally, and I'm often the last one on the dance floor.

"If I'm in a room purely full of friends and it's all people I know, then I'll absolutely get up and dance.

"So hopefully this will be a new tribe of people for me to be part of the Coronation Street family.

"I'm glad that nobody has to pick me up, but the downside is I have to pick my partner up.

When asked if he took criticism well, Mr Cotton said: "No I don't take criticism well, not in any way, shape or form.

"It's not productive, it's actually counter productive, and it doesn't encourage you.

"Critiquing is slightly different. Luckily I've known Jason for many years – so we'll see what happens. I know him, I adore him, but we'll see what happens."