'Dancing On Ice' injury count isn't higher than normal - Christopher Dean

Dancing On Ice judge Christopher Dean has insisted there are not more injuries than usual on the current series.

The ITV show has suffered a string of setbacks since starting in January, with four people withdrawing for health reasons and Rufus Hound and Emmerdale's Joe-Warren Plant departing after positive COVID tests.

As a result, the ice-skating competition is being taken off air this weekend to give the remaining contestants a chance to regroup.

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Asked on ITV’s Lorraine whether the injury count was higher than usual, Dean said: “I don’t think it’s any more than normal, it’s just been reported, maybe, a little bit more.”

Host Ranvir Singh, who was filling in for Lorraine Kelly, questioned whether a certain amount of injuries were to be expected.

Dean’s fellow judge and skating partner Jayne Torvill said they have a saying that “if you are not falling you are not trying”, but that they also don’t want contestants to push themselves too far, and always take precautions and give advice.

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The ice champion went on: “As Chris said, we always have some injuries and we always say to our reserves, ‘Don’t think that you won’t be in the show’ because nearly every season we end up using one and this year we used both reserves.”

So far this series, Denise Van Outen has pulled out after breaking her shoulder, pro skater Hamish Gaman left after hurting his hand and former The Only Way Is Essex star Billie Shepherd left after suffering a concussion.

On top of that, Jason Donovan has been advised by doctors to take time out after injuring his back.

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Pro skater Yebin Mok had to pull out of the series before it began after her partner Graham Bell accidentally stabbed her in the leg with his skate during training.

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