Denise van Outen 'gutted' as she pulls out of 'Dancing on Ice' over injury
Denise van Outen has announced she'll be leaving Dancing on Ice due to injury.
The presenter, who was partnered with professional skater Matt Evers, had made her debut on the programme after injuring her shoulder while in training but an MRI scan has now shown she has three bone fractures and a partial dislocation.
She made the announcement to her Instagram along with a snap of her and Evers from Sunday's show where she sported a glamorous sling.
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"GUTTED! If you’ve been watching @dancingonice you will be aware that just over a week ago I had a nasty fall and injured my shoulder. I managed to skate my first dance with @themattevers on the live show through a gritted smile because the pain was unbearable.
"I’ve tried as hard as I can to carry on because I love the show and the amazing team in front and behind the cameras. Initially we thought with rest I could make a return to the ice, but a recent MRI scan has shown that I have 3 bone fractures as well as a partial dislocation. OUCH! No wonder I’ve been in agony.
"I won’t be able to do any lifts, tricks or solo skating on the show due to my injury. I’m going to bail out gracefully with my DOI bling sling. @themattevers has been the most incredible support and skate partner (a true friend) and I’m so grateful for his expertise in teaching me (ice virgin😂⛸) the basics.
"I just wish I was well enough to learn all the fabulous tricks my injury won’t allow me to do. Chair dancing on Ice with a massive pie won’t get us points on the leaderboard 😂. I’m actually proud of what I’ve achieved ( not much, lowest scores so far 😂) . If you don’t mind I’m going to give myself a couple of points for bravery for doing cartwheels on Ice at 46 with broken bones 👍🏻😂❄️."
Van Outen went on to wish the rest of the show's cast and the judges luck with the rest of the series.
While she came bottom of the leaderboard in the first round of skates, she had made it through to the next week on the public vote.
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She and Evers had bonded during the months leading up to the live shows, with the skater temporarily moving in to van Outen's home.
In his statement, Evers said he was "devastated" she wasn't fit to perform but that they had formed a "wonderful friendship".
A spokesperson for Dancing on Ice said: “We adore Denise and Matt and we’re so very sad to see them leave the competition so soon. They are both much loved members of the Dancing On Ice family and we’d like to thank them for their hard work, from the moment they began training through to the joyful performances they brought to the show.
"We wish Denise all the very best as she now takes some time to make a full recovery.”
A new couple is set to take van Outen and Evers' place in the competition as Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler will join the cast with pro-skater Joe Johnson.
Myleene Klass was the first celebrity to leave the competition when she lost the skate-off to Lady Leshurr at the weekend.
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