DANCING ON ICE DIVA’S I cried when Gemma fell, I wanted to give her a cuddle & rub her knees MUM’S ANGUISH WHEN

“She could have knocked her teeth out or fainted. She could have died. She had chest pains and anxiety beforehand.

“I found it very emotional and upsetting because I couldn’t put my arms round her. As a mum that’s all you can do.”

Addressing claims that Gemma had faked it, Joan added: “That is ridiculous and false. Why would you purposefully hurt yourself? You wouldn’t.”

Joan says the Towie star is a survivor with a thick skin after being bullied while growing up in Romford, East London.

Gemma – who turned 38 yesterday – has told in her autobiography how she was beaten and robbed by one classmate.

After struggling as a pupil at the Frances Bardsley Academy For Girls, her parents moved her to the £ 7,800- a- year Raphael Independent School.

“Bullies at school prepared her for this industry,” said Joan. “She had to deal with that and I told her she has to have a thick skin.

“People are just jealous of Gemma. These trolls have nothing better to do with their time.

“I say to Gemma, they are not your family, you don’t know them, you have to be tough if you want to survive this industry.”

Two weeks ago, Dancing on Ice’s Mr Nasty judge Jason Gardiner, 47, told Gemma she was “all over the place” having already dismissed her as “lazy” and “mediocre”.

But Gemma hit back, telling him to “shut up” and started shouting that he was “boring”.

He then interjected: “This doesn’t help your cause. It shows you’re just a brat. Listen to what we’re saying.”

Joan said of the tiff: “I agree with some of his comments but calling her a brat – you don’t do t hings l i ke t hat. It’s not professional.

“That was a step too far. That was so embarrassing. arrassing.

“I think Jason wants to be the centre e of attention himself. That’s at’s why he is c o ming o out ut wit h outrageous comments.

“She was just sticking up for herself.” erself.”

She added: ded:

“Gemma is very vulnerable. She is a very ry sensitive person and d has a massive heart. She has been holding it together though.”

Joan, who has rheumatoid arthritis, says Gemma has to deal with hate from strangers every day – even when out with her mum.

One afternoon last month they were targeted in Harrods, leaving them fearing for their lives.

Joan said: “This man came up to her and said, ‘I hope you fall on the ice and break your back.’ “We We had to call security. It was really nasty. I was frightened to say anything and so was Gemma. He could have had a knife or a gun on him.”

Joan believes that fame and the scrutiny on former dancer Gemma has caused her to put on weight.

She says: “Gemma has only put on weight recently. The dancing used to keep her slim. Losing weight isn’t easy.

Clumsy

“It’s because of the stress and not having the time to do your own food. Takeaways and ready meals don’t help. These ready meals are so high in fat and sugar.”

Drama follows Gemma around. A clip of her falling down a hole on stage at an awards bash went viral last year.

Joan – who lives in Romford with husband Alan, 71, Gemma’s dad – said: “With Gemma, life is stressful.

“Gemma is accident-prone and can be clumsy. Her head is all over