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'Dancing On Ice' fans accuse judges of upping scores to save disaster series

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock (11777383ce)
Ashley Banjo, John Barrowman, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean
'Dancing On Ice' TV show, Series 13, Episode 6, Hertfordshire, UK - 28 Feb 2021
The judges scored highly in tonight's show (Photo by Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock)

Dancing On Ice has returned to TV after a week off to give its dwindling cast time to recover - but viewers complained that the judges were overmarking to make up for the lack of contestants.

The ITV show has been plagued by problems this year as five celebrities have had to drop out because of injury or positive coronavirus tests and the final has been brought forward by a week.

Last Sunday, it was forced to take a break from live episodes for a week and made a triumphant return this weekend, but some viewers suspected that the judges were giving out high marks to bring a sense of excitement back to the competition.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock (11777383ak)
Colin Jackson and Klabera Komini - Saturday Night Fever
'Dancing On Ice' TV show, Series 13, Episode 6, Hertfordshire, UK - 28 Feb 2021
Colin Jackson was top of the leaderboard (Photo by Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock)

Colin Jackson was up first for the movie week show and shocked Dancing On Ice fans by scoring three 9.5s and a 9 from judges Ashley Banjo, John Barrowman, Jayne Torvill and Cristopher Dean.

Viewers claimed that his Saturday Night Fever routine wasn't good enough to justify the series high score of 37.5 points.

Presenter Holly Willoughby also looked surprised as she said: "I don't think we've had 9.5s at this point in the competition before."

Second skater of the episode Rebekah Vardy also bagged some high scores for her Breakfast at Tiffany's performance.

When Sonny Jay took to the ice third, he continued the run of high scores by equaling Jackson's 37.5 points with 9.5s and a 9.

His Billy Elliot skate was rated a little more highly by viewers, but with three celebrities in a row scoring high, they began to suspect that there was something more behind tonight's marks.

This week, Jason Donovan became the fifth celebrity to drop out of Dancing On Ice with a back injury that had already seen him miss one show.

He followed Joe-Warren Plant off the rink, after the competition favourite was forced to quit over a positive coronavirus test.

Jason Donovan Dancing On Ice
Jason Donovan is the latest celebrity to quit the series (ITV)

Billie Shepherd had left before him when she suffered a concussion during training, Rufus Hound also had to leave after testing positive for coronavirus, and Denise Van Outen was an early exit after breaking her shoulder just before her ice debut.

However, Van Outen's skating partner Matt Evers made a return to the show this week as Faye Brooks' new partner after Hamish Gaman was forced to quit over a finger injury.

Viewers were annoyed that Brooks didn't get a higher score, especially after having to get used to a new partner.

The series had to bring in both of its reserve contestants this year - Amy Tinkler and Matt Richardson - although Richardson was voted out during his first show and Tinkler only lasted a couple of weeks.

With no replacement skaters left, Dancing On Ice has had to bring forward the date of the series final this year by a week, with it now due to air on March 14.

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