Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ICE SHOW’S BIG FREEZE
TV bosses axe this weekend’s DOI
Showbiz
DANCING On Ice will be off air this weekend as it struggles to continue with enough fit competitors.
ITV bosses took the drastic decision to give its injured celebrities a chance to recover.
It will be replaced by a “greatest hits” show replaying some of the best performances on the show over the years.
Jason Donovan, 52, missed Sunday’s show due to a back injury and several other celebs are thought to be nursing minor niggles which could force them out of a future show without rest.
RISKING HER BEK Andy and Rebekah pull off the headbanger
Last week show favourite Emmerdale star Joe-warren Plant – like fellow contestant comic Rufus Hound – tested positive for Covid-19 and had to quit.
Stage star Denise Van Outen has withdrawn with a broken shoulder and TOWIE’S Billie Shepherd has gone after a heavy fall on the ice which gave her concussion.
An ITV spokesman said: “There will be no live show on Sunday 21st February. Each week our production team and cast have delivered a fantastic show during incredibly challenging times. The welfare of all
of those involved is important to us and we felt it prudent to take a week’s break at this juncture.”
The spokesman said it will be back live on February 28.
Six contestants are left after Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler left on Sunday night following a skate-off with rapper Lady Leshurr. The two-hour show had less than 19 minutes of skating.
The injury crisis even led to Phillip Schofield joking that he and co-host Holly Willoughby might have to take part.
The action included a prerecorded clip of skaters dancing around singer Rita Ora as she performed her single and a flashback to Doi’s ex-champ Ray Quinn on the ice.
Rebekah and partner Andy Buchanan scored highly for their routine, which featured the dangerous headbanger move.
YV
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