After just three episodes, Dancing On Ice’s 2021 series has seen more drama than many reality shows face in their entirety, including freak injuries, coronavirus and backstage fury.
So TV fans can easily draw likenesses between the skating competition and the ill-fated winter sports-based show The Jump, which gained notorious status with a series of horrendous injuries, leading to Channel 4 dropping the programme in 2018 after four worrying series.
The show saw 34 celebrities become injured in various ranges of severity, with Olympian Beth Tweddle even launching legal action against the show after crashed into a barrier and fracturing her vertebrae in 2016, and as medical costs and insurance rose to a dizzying high, the show was ditched.
Dancing On Ice appears to be on a similarly fractious path, as the show has already seen two departures – in injured Denise Van Outen and corona-positive Rufus Hound – while pro skater Yebin Mok suffered a freak accident involving ‘an ice blade’ which threw the show into concern early on.
And with the early incidents being just the tip of the iceberg, fans have taken to Twitter to voice concern over safety… So what HAS happened so far both on and off the ice?
Troubled: After just three episodes, Dancing On Ice’s 2021 series has seen more drama than many reality shows face in their entirety, including freak injuries, coronavirus and backstage fury (left-right Colin Jackson, Denise Van Outen, Graham Bell, Lady Leshurr, Sonny Jay, Faye Brookes, Billie Shepherd, Jason Donovan, Joe-Warren Plant, Myleene Klass, Rebekhah Vardy and Rufus Hound)
Pained: TV fans can easily draw likenesses between the skating competition and the ill-fated winter sports-based show The Jump, which gained notorious status with a series of horrendous injuries, leading to Channel 4 dropping the programme in 2018 after four worrying series (DOI’s Denise Van Outen, left, The Jump’s Rebecca Adlington, right)
FREAK ACCIDENT
On January 11, disaster struck when pro skater Yebin Mok, who was paired with Olympic skier Graham Bell, suffered a laceration to her leg and was taken to hospital in horror scenes.
Ouch! While Yebin is still in physiotherapy, Graham was booted off the show on Sunday.
Speaking after the injury, Graham told MailOnline: ‘I fell when we were training on Monday and Yebin my pro-dance partner fell onto the back of my skate. She was cut quite badly on the shin and needed an operation to clean and stitch up the wound. She spent Monday night in Watford hospital and was released yesterday…
‘Luckily there was no nerve or tendon damage. She has been told two to four weeks before she can skate again, so Dancing on Ice have organised for a replacement, Karina Mantra, to come in for the first few performances.
‘It’s going to be really tough learning our routines again with someone new, but Yebin will be on hand to coach us both. It is now a massive incentive for me to stay in the show so that I can get Yebin back on the ice!’
While Yebin is still in physiotherapy, Graham was booted off the show on Sunday.
Agony: On January 11, disaster struck when pro skater Yebin Mok, who was paired with Olympic skier Graham Bell, suffered a laceration to her leg and was taken to hospital in horror scenes
Shocking: Channel 4 confirmed The Jump was cancelled in 2018 (The 2017 cast L-R Gareth Thomas, Caprice Bourret, Jade Jones MBE, Lydia Bright, Kadeena Cox MBE, Spencer Mathews, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Vogue Williams, Robbie Fowler, Mark Dolan, Louis Smith, Emma Parker-Bowles, Josie Gibson and Jason Robinson)
PAINFUL INJURY
On January 26, Denise Van Outen announced she was quitting the show after learning she’d fractured her shoulder in an accident during training. The presenter, 46, shared an Instagram statement telling fans she’d withdrawn the show after being told by doctors the injury would leave her severely limited in training.
Ouch: Denise was just one of the many casualties so far
Denise has been replaced by retired Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler, 21, who will make her ice debut on Sunday alongside pro Joe Johnson. In the post, Denise explained that doctors discovered she had three bone fractures in her shoulder which meant she’d be unable to perform any lifts or solo skating.
She wrote: ‘GUTTED! If you’ve been watching @dancingonice you will be aware that just over a week ago I had a nasty fall and injured my shoulder. I managed to skate my first dance with @themattevers on the live show through a gritted smile because the pain was unbearable…
‘I’ve tried as hard as I can to carry on because I love the show and the amazing team in front and behind the cameras. Initially we thought with rest I could make a return to the ice, but a recent MRI scan has shown that I have three bone fractures as well as a partial dislocation. OUCH! No wonder I’ve been in agony.’
Oh no! Denise shared an Instagram statement telling fans she’d withdrawn the show after being told by doctors the injury would leave her severely limited in training
Pained: Gymnast Beth Tweddle was airlifted to hospital in February 2016 while training on the ski jump at the Channel 4 show’s set in Austria, before suing bosses later on due to the injuries
CORONA SCARES
On Tuesday, Rufus Hound was axed after testing positive for COVID.
The comedian, 41, took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to announce in a tweet and accompanying video message that he has had to withdraw from the ITV skating competition after contracting the virus.
His withdrawal comes after he had already missed two weeks of shows due to self-isolation – during which he tested positive with ‘a mild case’ of the virus. Despite completing the government mandated quarantine time to recover from coronavirus, strict rules at ITV dictate he cannot return at all.
Show bosses confirmed that Rufus and his professional partner Robin Johnstone have both been axed from and will be replaced by Matt Richardson, 29, and his pro-skater partner Vicky Ogden this weekend.
During his isolation however, he discovered he had contracted the virus himself and despite completing the quarantine period, strict ITV rules state that he cannot return in a nod to the safety of stars and crew on the show.
Breaking the news to his 1m followers, Rufus tweeted: ‘I will no longer be participating Dancing On Ice. COVID is – as I’m sure we’re all well aware – a b**tard and sadly the world isn’t short of those.’
Axed! On Tuesday, Rufus Hound was axed after testing positive for COVID
FAMILY TRAGEDY
On January 28, it was revealed that TOWIE star Billie Faiers would not appear on the next episode of the ITV skating show following the death of her beloved Nanny Wendy. It was confirmed by MailOnline that Billie, 31, and her sister Sam’s grandmother had passed away aged 77 from pneumonia.
Statement: On January 28, it was revealed that TOWIE star Billie Faiers would not appear on the next episode of the ITV skating show following the death of her beloved Nanny Wendy
Following the news, a representative for DOI revealed that Billie will miss Sunday’s show as she grieves the ‘devastating’ loss of her relative.
The spokesperson said: ‘Sadly due to a family bereavement this week Billie is taking a break from the ice and won’t be on Sunday’s show. We look forward to her returning next week and send her all of our love at this sad time.’
Prior to the one-week absence, Billie had performed her first skating routine with her professional partner Mark Hanretty. It was then announced that she lost her Nanny Wendy.
A source close to the family said: ‘The girls are completely devastated. They were very close with their Nan and her passing has come as a complete shock to the family.’ MailOnline understands that the girls and their families took time out to grieve and have halted filming The Mummy Diaries.
Sad news: It was confirmed by MailOnline on Thursday that Billie, 31, and her sister Sam’s grandmother had passed away aged 77 from pneumonia(Wendy pictured second right)
CONCUSSION AND BRUISING
On February 5, Rufus Hound’s replacement Matt Richardson spoke about his skating debut with pro Vicky Ogden this weekend and how he ended up with a black eye as he appeared on Lorraine on Friday.
The comedian, 29, revealed when he first started training he suffered a nasty fall which led him to being sent home with concussion and a black eye.
Matt told the host: ‘I was injured. It was entirely Christopher Dean’s fault, I think even he knows that deep down…
‘On the masterclass day, I went to skate and I was terrible and they said the problem was my limbs, which isn’t ideal. He gave me a pole to skate with to stop my arms moving and as I was skating with the pole, I caught the front of my blade and went over the front of the pole…
‘Because I was holding something I couldn’t put my hands out to stop myself so my face took all of the fall. I ended up being sent home with concussion and a black eye.’
Bambi on ice: On February 5, Rufus Hound’s replacement Matt Richardson spoke about his skating debut with pro Vicky Ogden this weekend and how he ended up with a black eye as he appeared on Lorraine on Friday
TANTRUMS
Following his eviction on January 31, Graham Bell reportedly had a screaming tantrum. The professional skier, 55, vented his scathing frustrations towards his pro dance partner, Karina Manta, demonstrating the ‘worst sportsmanship in the history of the show,’ according to insiders.
Not holding back! Tantrums kicked off on Sunday
Sources claim the athlete revealed his ‘true colours’ while shocking everyone on set with his behaviour. ‘It’s the worst sportsmanship in the history of the show. Everyone was stunned. Graham was screaming their routine was “f***ing s**t” at Karina,’ an insider has revealed.
‘He did it in front of everyone. No one could believe it. He said the judges felt it was too simple and basic, and it was her fault. He showed his true colours,’ added the source, according to The Sun.
Graham, who represented Great Britain at five different Winter Olympics, became the second skater to be eliminated after facing Rebekah Vardy in the skate-off.
The athlete skated an energetic routine to Born To Hand Jive from the musical Grease alongside Karina, with the pair scoring a respectable 25 points.
But it wasn’t enough to save him from the chop as after skating against Rebekah, the judges voted to unanimously save the WAG, 38, and send him home leading to the outburst.
Yikes! Following his eviction on January 31, Graham Bell reportedly had a screaming tantrum. The professional skier, 55, vented his scathing frustrations towards his pro dance partner, Karina Manta, demonstrating the ‘worst sportsmanship in the history of the show,’ according to insiders