DANCING On Ice star Joey Essex has been caught out raving about his "ninja" skating skills in his book - despite claiming he was a novice for the show.
The former The Only Way Is Essex star said this week he was excited to learn a "new skill" ahead of his debut on the ITV competition.
However, an unearthed excerpt from his 2014 book Being Reem appears to have contradicted his "novice" claims.
Joey, 32, is set to take to the ice for the first time alongside his skating partner Vanessa Bauer in the show next week.
However, despite appearing to be a novice on the ice, the reality star has previously gushed over his skating ability.
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Joey is said to have gushed in his autobiography, titled Being Reem, that he was a "icy ninja" with his skates on.
In an excerpt unearthed by The Mirror, Joey bragged: "If you went to Romford ice rink on a Saturday afternoon you’d see me, little Joey Essex, whizzing about like some icy ninja.
"I can still ice-skate now – I’m one of those blokes who gets on the ice and starts skimming about backwards doing fancy shapes (to impress the ladies).
“Imagine if I’d gone on Dancing on Ice. I reckon I could easily pull off that Lycra.”
Teasing his appearance on the show in an ITV promo this week, Joey had gushed he was "enjoying learning a new skill".
He told fans about what he was looking "forward to" most, saying: "Learning a new skill properly because with ice skating, from what I know, once you’ve learned it, you remember it.”
It's not the first time Joey has been spotted taking to the ice, as in 2014 he was photographed at an ice rink opening.
The Towie star donned his skates and took to the ice alongside fans, where he was seen skating unaided.
It comes after Joey was seen asking skating partner Vanessa for her number in a first look clip amid rumours they're dating.
Joey is said to have formed a close bond with German beauty Vanessa, 26, ahead of Sunday night's launch show.
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Ahead of their first routine, ITV released a clip looking at all the partnerships in training.
Joey said to camera: "I just know that now is my time. That sounds so serious, I am getting serious, aren't I?"
When they exit the rink, Joey could be heard asking: "How do we stay in touch? Can I take your number?"
Joey and Vanessa have previously fuelled romance rumours during their training sessions.
Vanessa recently addressed the rumours swirling around her and Joey directly, insisting their relationship is purely professional.
She told The Sun: "We are just skating partners."
Dancing on Ice starts Sunday at 6:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
