DANCE extravaganza Holiday On Ice Spirit comes to the Echo Arena in Liverpool next year.

Directed by world champion skater Robin Cousins, the show will be staged from January 28-31.

Looking forward to the show, Robin - who won an Olympic Gold in Lake Placid, Canada in 1980 and is a panellist on ITV’s Dancing On Ice - told the Globe: "It's a great visual spectacular with 48 skaters from 19 nationalities taking part. It's a big extravaganza.

"The new Echo arena allows the production to be presented as it was intended. Holiday On Ice has been on tour for 65 years and has the capacity to shrink and expand, as needed, for venues.

"I was in the arena two years ago with the Dancing On Ice tour and know what the ice is like, so I think it's going to be intimate enough for the audience to be part of the show, but big enough to allow the show to breathe. I'm quite excited about returning to Liverpool."

The 52-year-old made his professional debut on the show 30 years ago and this is the ninth production he has helped created.

He said: "I think what's kept it alive for 65 years is that the family core entertainment business it was created for hasn't changed over the years.

"The technology may have changed and the extravagant sets allow us to have phemomenal costumes, but the family entertainment aspect has not changed."

"I love to sit in the audience and hear what people are saying about the show, to look at the faces of those watching.

"Holiday On Ice appears all over the world, so we have to try to create a show which isn’t unique to a UK audience.

"We want to try to find something which has a life. Some of our shows last seven or eight years, so it’s important to find something which isn’t going to tire or age. I shall be looking forward to sitting in the audience and watching."

After winning the Olympic Gold medal in 1980, Bristol-born Robin won the World Free Skating Championship Gold three times, along with World Championship Silver and European Championship Gold.

He was also awarded the MBE for services to sport and skating.

Dancing On Ice returns for a fifth series in January.

Looking forward to casting a professional eye over the contestants, Robin said: "Celebrities are in training behind closed doors. I don’t think they have selected the final group that will hit the screen.

"What's great is that people still seem to be captivated by the show and it's opening up a brand new interest in figure-skating."

"I still have a passion for ice sports and am very happy to be involved in shows like this."

Tickets for Holiday On Ice Spirit! are from the box office on 0844 8000 400.