A Dancing on Ice star has quit the series just hours before the next live show.
Professional skater Vanessa Bauer, who is dancing with Love Island star Chris Taylor, has withdrawn due to multiple injuries. It's another huge blow for the ITV show as celeb Josh Jones had to pull out after a serious injury in rehearsals.
A gutted Vanessa took to Instagram to announce she had suffered a torn ligament after an accident in rehearsals. In a video, she said: "I'm here today with rather upsetting news. I am unfortunately not going to be able to continue on Dancing on Ice with Chris.
"That's really upsetting for me. I have trained Chris since October last year and it is always such an amazing achievement for myself to see someone else progress so much in a skill they've never done before.
"So it's been really rewarding for me to watch this whole journey for Chris [and] the way he's got better week since October and also since the live shows started."
Vanessa explained she hadn't realised how bad her injuries were but now has no choice but to leave the competition after an MRI scan revealed multiple injuries. She went on: "I unfortunately had a little accident backstage last week on Dancing on Ice just before the live show on Sunday.
"And I didn't realise how bad it was then, but we did an MRI and it turned out that I have a completely torn ligament, grade three sprain injury and a major grade two sprain injury. I shouldn't be skating on an injury like that and so I'm taking all of the advice from the medical professionals here, I am in very good hands."
Chris has revealed his heartbreak at pro partner Vanessa having to drop out. He said: "I'm very very sad but you have an annoying brother for life," he told her.
Thanking fans, Vanessa said: "Thank you so much for your support this season and over the past 8 years! There is so much really exciting stuff happening year and I'm looking forward to being properly healed for it! I'll be there supporting you every step along the way."
It's the latest blow for Dancing on Ice after comedian Josh Jones was forced to withdraw last week due to an ankle injury. The 32-year-old had been due to perform in the third live show, but he and his skating partner Tippy Packard will no longer compete.
He told hosts Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern: "So we were skating, and I went over on my ankle (during rehearsals)... and I kind of twisted my ankle. And I've got a cold sore as well, so I've got (two lumps)."
Packard said: "We had so much potential to bring so many laughs to competition, and it's a shame that we won't be able to bring that journey." Willoughby said she and the show's team "can't quite believe" it.
On Instagram, Jones wrote that he was "gutted", and said he was "eliminated by gravity". He added: "Thanks so much to everyone on the show they have all been so lovely, but my main thanks are with Tippy, she's amazing and I loved working with her.
"She's genuinely one of the nicest people I've ever met so it's been an absolute pleasure. Good luck to everyone else in the competition, I'll be cheering you all on."
A message on the official Dancing On Ice Instagram page said on Sunday: "Josh Jones sustained an injury during rehearsals and has had to withdraw from Dancing on Ice. Josh and Tippy's partnership will be greatly missed. We will be helping to support Josh and wish him well with his recovery."
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