Sexy Ulster TV star Zoe Salmon will be aiming to make all the right moves on Dancing On Ice! ‘Salmon leaps’ will be a regular scintillating feature of the top-rated celebrity skating contest which returns to ITV tonight.

Whether Zoe’s rumoured boyfriend — Belfast-born Hollyoaks star Gerard McCarthy — will be there to cheer her on remains to be seen. But one thing is certain about the Bangor belle who became a household name as a Blue Peter presenter — the blonde go-getter who ran the London Marathon and even walked on the wing of an aeroplane is pledging to face her latest cool challenge with fiery determination!

Said Zoe: “I am a real daredevil at heart.

“I am always terrified before I do anything risky, though. I do get worried, but I’ll always be up for doing anything. I’m totally up for the lift. I’m up for anything. Bring it on!”

Zoe knew that she would be appearing on Dancing On Ice, while her Northern Ireland network telly presenting contemporary, Christine Bleakley, was winning the hearts and votes of viewers on Strictly Come Dancing late last year.

And Zoe has adopted the same modest, self-deprecatory attitude towards her entry into the celebrity dancing arena as Christine.

Said the 28-year-old former Miss Northern Ireland: “I am terrified, because I really don’t know if I can pull it off. I’m looking forward to it in the sense that I’ve got everything to learn and I’m very interested to see how far I can progress, if at all.”

Added Zoe, who will dance with professional partner, Matt Evers: “When I was asked to get involved, I thought it would be hilarious because I know how rubbish I actually am.

“Everything I do is exciting to me. In terms of being scared, I am constantly scared I’m going to fall. We have done low spins and high spins. But I scream so much!”

Zoe is joint fourth favourite with William Hill bookmakers to win the Dancing On Ice 2009 title at odds of 8/1.

The hot favourite to win the show is X Factor 2006 finalist, Ray Quinn, at 3/1.

Other celebrities taking part in this year’s series include ex-glamour model and TV presenter, Melinda Messenger; soap stars Roxanne Pallett, Gemma Bissix and Todd Carty, and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Rachel Stevens’ ‘ex’, Jeremy Edwards.

l Dancing On Ice, presented by Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby starts on UTV tonight at 7pm. The ‘Skate Off’ show is screened at 9.30pm.