Jason Gardiner: Dancing on Ice celebs get more action than Strictly

Strictly Come Dancing may be famed for the “Curse of Strictly”, but there’s another show that apparently sees even more illicit romances – Dancing on Ice.

Every year, Strictly contestants hit the headlines with rumours and revelations about the celebrities getting together with their pro partners, although Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner has revealed that the tabloids should be looking to his show for even juicier stories.

Asked by The Daily Star whether the show had a curse like Strictly’s, causing relationships to break up and contestants and dancers to get together, Gardiner wasn’t coy with the truth.

He said: “We’ve had loads of those. We just don’t make a song and dance about it.”

Asked why it wasn’t mentioned more, when the headlines generated by Strictly’s affairs seem to boost ratings, he added: “We don’t have to!”

Strictly had one of the most famous backstage dramas in its history during the 2018 series when comedian Seann Walsh was caught drunkenly kissing his dance partner Katya Jones, who is married to another of the show’s pro dancers, Neil Jones.

The fire was stoked further when Walsh’s now-ex-girlfriend tweeted an open letter damning the star for his behaviour throughout their relationship.

Finalist Ashley Roberts is said to be in a relationship with Giovanni Pernice now, who partnered with her rival Faye Tozer in the recent series.

Last year’s Dancing on Ice winner Jake Quickenden split from his fiancee Danielle Fogarty after last year’s show, and previous contestants have also found themselves falling in and out of love after getting to grips with the close routines.

The most famous Dancing on Ice love saga involved pro skater Sylvain Longchambon, who got together with his celeb partner Jennifer Metcalfe, then the following season dumped the Hollyoaks actress for Coronation Street star Samia Ghadie who he is now married to.

Metcalfe’s Hollyoaks co-star Jorgie Porter even mocked Longchambon on air when she was matched with him for the All Star series, asking “is he going to be my boyfriend now?”.

Controversial Strictly love stories have included rugby player Ben Cohen who left his wife for dancer Kristina Rihanoff, and Louise Redknapp who left husband of nearly 20 years Jamie after being a finalist in the show.

Acid-tongued Gardiner, known for his cutting criticisms, seems to be gearing up for another harsh season as he recently criticised the BBC for making Cheryl a judge on their new contest The Greatest Dancer.

He said: “The judging line-up on that is questionable as well…what’s her dance background?

“She went to Royal Ballet School that you pay for, an extortionate amount to go to because mum and dad just want to drop you off somewhere for the holidays.”

Dancing on Ice bosses will be hoping to avoid the criticism levelled at Strictly for including pro dancers in their contestant line-up, notably Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, whose bandmate Melody Thornton is taking part in the skating show.

Thornton has already claimed not to be a trained dancer, but the skating contestants also include former Strictly pro James Jordan.

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