Celebrities who dance on ice in sync with their professional partners are able to perfect their spins, jumps, and glides while dancing on the ice. The popular ITV show has had its fair share of dramas, disasters, and scandals over its almost two-decade run, despite what it may seem like.
Viewers have been gripped by this year’s series with Sam Aston, Charlie Brooks, Dan Edgar Anton Ferdinand, Mollie Pearce, Steve Redgrave, Michaela Strachan and Chris Taylor still in the competition in a bid to skate their way to the final. But former Love Island star Chris, 34, has been dealt a devastating blow as it was announced just hours before Sunday’s live show (2 February) that his professional partner, Vanessa Bauer, has had to pull out of the series after an ‘ accident backstage. ‘
After an MRI scan revealed numerous injuries, Vanessa heartbrokenly confirmed the unanticipated news in a video. She remarked, “Unfortunately, I had a minor accident backstage last week on Dancing on Ice just before the Sunday live show.” And then I realized how bad it was, so we had an MRI, which revealed a major grade two sprain injury, a torn ligament, and a major grade three sprain injury. I am in very good hands because I shouldn’t be skating on an injury like that, so I’m taking all the advice from the medical professionals here.
Josh Jones withdrew from the show after suffering a broken leg during rehearsals, prompting this announcement a week later. We’ve taken a look back at what has gone wrong in the past with two Dancing on Ice stars who were already forced to withdraw just weeks into the run-up to the show…
‘ Bullying ‘ claims
In the midst of rife rumors about who caused their altercation, viewers were left stunned when model Caprice Bourret left Dancing on Ice in 2020 after a falling out with her skating partner Hamish Gaman. After deciding to end the competition, Caprice and Oscar Peter briefly collaborated on one performance.
In the aftermath, Caprice attacked ITV, calling them out for allegedly not providing enough support, and was quoted by The Sun as saying, “There is no duty of care.” In America, they have to have it or they get sued”. She went on to criticise the network for lacking common decency in what she referred to as ‘ destructive shows’, stating, “It’s just thinking about other people, it’s just common decency, I think, when it comes to these kinds of destructive shows. We have to have a soul at some point for God’s sakes”.
However, ITV dismissed her accusations, insisting on their commitment to duty of care with a statement, saying: “We take our duty of care very seriously. Every single person we’ve worked with has a strong sense of support for Dancing On Ice.
We take bullying allegations seriously, but Dancing On Ice did not find any supporting evidence, and we vehemently refute any suggestion to the contrary. “We’re very proud of the team, both on and off screen. We are committed to making sure that everyone who works on the program is fully supported because they produce a fantastic show.
Bloody injuries
During Rebekah Vardy’s stint on the show in 2021, she accidentally sliced her partner Andy Buchanan’s face open with her ice skate during rehearsals. He was rushed to the hospital, and later, Rebekah said, “It was quite scary. However, it makes one realize how dangerous our actions are.
After being kicked in the ear with an ice skate in 2020, Joe Swash managed to injure himself and was taken to the hospital for an emergency procedure. Just one week prior to winning the championship, Joe revealed he had a “cauliflower ear” and needed a substantial bandage wrapped around his head.
Following a horrifying fall, Antony Cotton was taken to the hospital again in 2018. After a horrifying dance with dance partner Brandee Malto, the actor, Sean Tulley, broke down in agony. Both fell backward onto the hard ice, with Antony sustaining the brunt of the impact and breaking his ribs. Antony bravely vowed to carry on with the competition despite receiving rest orders and losing training days.
Jennifer Ellison sliced her own scalp on the ice in one of the show’s most gruesome moments in its history in 2012. The tricky scorpion kick, which the former Brookside actress attempted, was disastrous and resulted in paramedics pouring blood into her head. Despite the injury, she went on to finish the show in fourth place.
In 2006, David Seaman and his professional skating partner Pam O’Connor collided in a tragic accident. Pam’s face was just inches away from the ice during rehearsals, so David tried to swing her round by her feet. Pam was unintentionally dropped onto the ice by the former Arsenal goalkeeper in a horrifying collision, though. Pam needed stitches after splitting her chin and needing stitches, but like a professional, she skated with David once more on the ice.
Stolen spots
In the meantime, as early as 2019, reports began claiming that Maura Higgins had secured a spot on Dancing On Ice, which was originally reserved for Love Island champ Amber Gill. Despite being an early favourite for the 2020 series, Amber told The Sun she was unaware of any confirmed slot, saying, “I didn’t realise I had a place to lose, to be honest”.
She said, “I believe a few islanders from this series went to ITV to have a chat about Dancing On Ice, but it’s a really big commitment, and I left that meeting believing it was probably a little bit too much, training constantly.” However, she did express due diligence, saying: “I went to see them, though, because I think you have got to find out what something is before you just say a flat-out no”. Addressing the rumours, Maura told Mirror, “I mean, I know a lot of people went for castings for the show, but I was lucky enough to get it”.
Romances
There have been rumors of romances forming backstage amid the infamous “Dancing on Ice curse,” akin to the Strictly Come Dancing curse, over the years. Wes Nelson and Megan Barton Hanson split, which was a memorable scene from Wes’ time on Dancing on Ice in 2019, and is a recurring theme in reality TV history.
The breakup became public when Megan expressed her dismay after Wes ‘ partner, Vanessa Bauer, announced her own breakup right before their first performance, a move Megan branded as “tactical” and headline-grabbing. Megan later admitted that she did experience pangs of envy despite insisting that jealousy was the cause of her outburst. She revealed to Wes that her relationship with him was over just two weeks after Megan’s outburst in public, but she still showed up to cheer him on from the audience split.
Back in 2013, the so-called ‘ curse ‘ gripped EastEnders ‘ very own Matt Lapinskas, who, at the time, was dating fellow star Shona McGarty. On his first skate, Shona backed him from the sidelines, but in the middle of the series he fell for Brianne Delcourt, his ice-loving partner. The pair vehemently denied there was a cross-over at the time of the split, but when he left Brianne with a theatre co-star, the heartbroken figure skater admitted it.
Speaking to The Sun, Brianne fumed: “He pursued me behind Shona’s back. Lots of people warned me but I didn’t listen. I lied to him about how much I loved him and didn’t want to hurt Shona when we first got together.
Meanwhile, Samia Ghadie, then content in her relationship with Corrie colleague Will Thorp, encountered turbulence ahead of her Dancing on Ice stint. Before making their skating debut, Sylvain Longchambon and her dance partner, Jennifer Metcalfe, and both had previously left their marriages to get married.
Months later, newly single Samia and Sylvain finally confirmed the curse had struck and admitted they were an item, gushing: “It’s love”! The pair then engaged in a summer 2016 wedding and welcomed Yves Joseph as a son.
Source: Mirror
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