Dancing On Ice: Brendan Cole sets all-male duo after Vanessa Bauer pulls out with Covid

Vanessa Bauer will sit out Dancing On Ice this weekend after testing positive for Covid-19, ITV has confirmed.

Brendan Cole's skating partner said she was 'disappointed' to miss Musicals Week, but is 'looking forward to returning to the competition to showcase more creative routines!'

Cole will skate with stand-in Brendyn Hatfield instead, after personally requesting Rachel Steven's skate partner to step in for Bauer.

"[Brendyn's] an exceptionally talented skater and I have no doubt we will be able to create something really special for the show," said Cole. "I can’t thank him enough for stepping in."

The all-male duo will skate this Sunday to Beggin' by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons from Jersey Boys as part of Musicals Week.

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Hatfield, who reached the semi-finals of Dancing On Ice in 2021 skating with Lady Leshurr, said: "I'm thrilled that Brendan asked if I would skate with him this weekend - what an honour! Vanessa is a brilliant choreographer and I've loved watching her and Brendan skate each week.

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"I'm looking forward to putting together an exciting routine for this Sunday's show which I'm hoping will impress both the judges and viewers!"

ITV's ice-skating competition has stringent protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of all the contributors and staff, which are routinely monitored and updated to reflect the current guidelines.

ITV has confirmed that Bauer will return to the competition to skate with Brendan Cole once her isolation period is complete.

Hatfield exited the competition in week three after his partner, former S Club 7 star Rachel Stevens, lost the skate-off against Olympic BMX rider Kye Whyte.

Bauer's temporary departure from the show follows host Philip Schofield's, who missed presenting the show for the first time in 14 years after testing positive for Covid.