'Dancing On Ice' pro Hamish Gaman axed as producers try to 'freshen up the line-up'

Hamish Gaman will not appear among the professional skaters on the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice, having been axed from the line-up of performers.

The 38-year-old sports star revealed on Twitter that he will not be returning to the ice for this series, after four years on the show, during which he has partnered hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton, singer Saara Aalto, model Caprice and soap star Faye Brookes.

He made it all the way to the final with Aalto, finishing in third place behind winners James Jordan and Alexandra Schauman.

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"I'm sad to confirm that I'm not returning to Dancing On Ice this year. The producers told me that they weren't bringing me back because they wanted to freshen up the line-up," said Gaman.

"I was completely surprised by their decision and I've been left confused and struggling to make sense of everything that's happened."

Gaman said he will continue to skate with Vanessa Bauer outside of the show and is "devastated" that they won't be able to perform together on Dancing On Ice.

"Thank you for all of your love and support during my time on the show. I'm going to miss skating for you," he concluded.

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Gaman has had to withdraw from the last two series of Dancing On Ice due to various reasons.

In 2020, he stepped aside from partnering Caprice due to backstage problems which were never fully made public, while he had to pull out from working with Brookes when he injured his hand.

Dancing On Ice will return in 2022 after a difficult 2021 series, which was hit by numerous injuries as well as complications around COVID-19 and poor reviews — including from former judge Jason Gardiner.

The series was ultimately won by Capital FM presenter Sonny Jay and pro partner Angela Egan, with Brookes managing second place alongside Gaman's replacement Matt Evers.

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This year's line-up includes S Club 7's Rachel Stevens, dancer Brendan Cole, Happy Mondays star Bez and Love Island contestant Liberty Poole.

The series is expected to begin in January and will see John Barrowman replaced on the judging panel.

Watch: Dancing On Ice winner Sonny Jay celebrates victory