Dancing On Ice: Bez 'gutted' after testing positive for coronavirus

Dancing On Ice contestant Bez is self-isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19.

The Happy Mondays percussionist - real name Mark Berry - made history as the first ever celebrity contestant on the ITV show to compete wearing a crash helmet on Sunday night's show.

Now Bez, 57, has told The Daily Star: "I've had a positive test. I'm gutted because I'm going to be missing training but I'm looking forward to skating on the show again for Week Three and I'll be tuning at home and cheering on my mates who are skating this weekend."

The Step On star was not due to perform in Week Two after the public voted for him to escape the first skate-off, despite his bottom-of-the-leaderboard score of 12.5/40.

Read more: 'Dancing On Ice' pro skater Sean Rice dies aged 49

Bez took to the ice wearing a watermelon crash helmet and performed surrounded by giant dancing watermelons and a pair of giant maracas.

He confessed afterwards: "I've got everything - knee pad, elbow pads, back brace and of course [gesturing] protecting my old maracas!"

Host Phillip Schofield told him: "You're the only person we've ever had to send out on the ice with a crash helmet on. We're protecting your melon!"

Read more: Dancing On Ice: Happy Mondays Bez performs in watermelon crash helmet

TV presenter Ria Hebden, 39, and partner Lukasz Rozycki, learned on Sunday their judges' score and the public vote combined meant they had landed in the first skate-off of the series next week.

Last year Dancing On Ice featured a record number of celebrity drop-outs due to injury and illness.

Actor Denise Van Outen, TOWIE star Billie Shepherd and musician Jason Donovan were all forced to pull out due to injury, while

Pro skater Yebin Mok had to drop out before the series began when celebrity partner Graham Bell accidentally stabbed her in the leg with his skate during training.

Pro skater Hamish Gaman, who had partnered Faye Brookes, also had to quit over a finger injury.

And comedian Rufus Hound and soap actor Joe-Warren Plant both had to pull out after testing positive for coronavirus.

Watch: Bez suffer dramatic fall in Dancing On Ice training