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Dancing On Ice’s most bitter feuds from onscreen insults to WhatsApp rejections

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Dancing On Ice’s most bitter feuds from onscreen insults to WhatsApp rejections
Dancing On Ice’s most bitter feuds from onscreen insults to WhatsApp rejections

DANCING On Ice is returning to our screens in just over a week - and let's hope this year isn't as frosty as previous years.

This year, the cast includes Patsy Palmer, Coronation Street's Mollie Gallagher and Drag Race UK's The Vivienne as they get their skates on in a bid to nab the winner's trophy.

With the return date confirmed for Sunday, January 15, we look back on the show's biggest scandals to date – as we prepare to find out if this year's cast are lovers or fighters...

Hannah Spearritt and Andy Buchanan were the second to be eliminated qhiqhuiqhdiqkxprw
Hannah Spearritt and Andy Buchanan were the second to be eliminated

Hannah Spearritt and Rachel Stevens

S Club stars Hannah Spearitt and Rachel Stevens appear to be locked in a feud after they unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Hannah also previously refused to perform to any S Club songs during her time on the show, which was cut short after her elimination.

Bernice Blackstock suffers new blow in Emmerdale as she struggles with illnessBernice Blackstock suffers new blow in Emmerdale as she struggles with illness

Regarding her relationship with Rachel, Hannah told The Sun: "Do you know what? I haven't even seen the stories. But obviously, I've heard like roughly what they are saying.

"But yeah, if you're wanting a scrap then unfortunately, I don't think there will be. It’s just madness.

"She’s her own woman, I’m my own woman."

Hannah, who was partnered with Andy Buchanan, was left in tears after she was the second to be eliminated from the show in January.

Rachel met her partner Brendyn Hatfield when she was on the show in 2022.

Caprice Bourret and Hamish Gaman fell out in rehearsals
Caprice Bourret and Hamish Gaman fell out in rehearsalsCredit: Getty

Caprice Bourret and Hamish Gaman

When supermodel Caprice and Hamish Gaman were first partnered up in the 2020 series, it looked like a match made in heaven.

Caprice even cried when she was paired up with him, calling Hamish the pro that she wanted.

This was a partnership that proved looks can be decieving.

With consistent talk the couple didn't get along, Caprice refused to perform with him again after just one week, "parting ways" with him, missing a week, before returning to the ice with Oscar Peters.

Eventually, she quit the show altogether, and refused to return for the final.

Stalking terror rocks Coronation Street as barmaid targetedStalking terror rocks Coronation Street as barmaid targeted

Hamish was axed from the series in 2021 after he sustained a hand injury that year.

Vanessa and Wes were partnered in the 2019 series
Vanessa and Wes were partnered in the 2019 seriesCredit: Rex Features

Vanessa Bauer and Megan Barton-Hanson

Pro-skater Vanessa got more than she bargained for when teaming up with Love Island's Wes Nelson for the 2019 series, with Megan Barton-Hanson publicly feuding with her before the show even started.

Megan was dating Wes at the time, and accused Vanessa of "trying to get headlines" by announcing her break-up with boyfriend Louis Nathaniel hours before their debut.

In a post on Instagram, Megan wrote: "Love that you decide to announce your breakup with your boyfriend on the night of your 1st performance with my boyfriend!

"You've never reached out to me once or invited me to watch you train, it pained you to introduce yourself to me last night you didn't even look me in the eye LOL."

Megan called out Vanessa for using her break-up to garner favour with viewers
Megan called out Vanessa for using her break-up to garner favour with viewersCredit: Instagram

She added: "Hope the tactical breakup got you the headlines you wanted babe."

Megan later admitted she regretted taking their feud public, and Wes declared they'd squashed their beef after talking it out.

"I don’t even know what they spoke about, I just let women get on with their women talk," he told Heart Radio, adding he was just leaving them to it.

Megan and Wes split before the series was finished.

Jason Gardiner vs Everyone

Jason Gardiner certainly proved divisive with his comments over the years
Jason Gardiner certainly proved divisive with his comments over the years

Noone seemed to rile up contestants, fellow judges and the hosts more than Jason Gardiner.

The star was locked in several feuds throughout his tenure as judge, before he eventually left the series in 2019.

In 2011, Denice Welch's then-husband Tim Healy stormed onto the set to confront Jason live on-air for his critiques against the Loose Women host.

Jabbing a finger in his face, Healy scolded him for comparing her routine to "watching someone play Twister" and told him: "She’s 52 and she’s got four jobs! How many jobs have you got, eh?"

Jason later wrote a diatribe on Twitter against Healy, saying his "breath stank of stale p**s and alcohol" and scathed "at least he knows oral hygiene".

Jason got a shock when Tim Healy confronted him on the panel
Jason got a shock when Tim Healy confronted him on the panelCredit: ITV

Later on that season, he swiped at judge-turned-coach Karen Barber telling her "If your opinion still mattered you'd be on the panel."

However, they later buried the hatchet, with Jason admitting in 2019: "In her role as a coach, she is unsurpassable. Nobody can get our celebrities at the level that Karen can."

This could continue on throughout his time on the show, with Gemma Collins branding him a "bully" for his repeated nasty jabs at her and partner Matt Evers in 2019.

Karen Barber and Jason Gardiner rowed on air in 2011
Karen Barber and Jason Gardiner rowed on air in 2011Credit: Rex Features

She also called him out for "selling stories about her to the press" live on air after a Marilyn Monroe-inspired performance to Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.

When he eventually left the show, Gemma posted on Instagram that "karma was beautiful".

Jason later swiped at hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for not reaching out to him following the exit.

He said at the time:  “Since it was announced I was leaving the show I’ve had nothing from Phil and Holly. Not even a text message.

“It is hurtful, especially because when Phillip was getting a lot of negative attention recently I sent him a message of support.

“I thought they would get in touch but I’ve learned this industry is full of fake and disingenuous people.”

Gemma was banned from the WhatsApp group for her diva behaviour
Gemma was banned from the WhatsApp group for her diva behaviourCredit: Rex Features

Gemma Collins

It didn't take Mystic Meg to know that hiring self-certified diva Gemma Collins was going to bring some drama - but we don't think anyone was prepared for how much.

During her stint on the show (another 2019 casualty) Gemma was repeatedly blocked from the contestants' WhatsApp group for her behaviour and comments.

The comment was revealed by co-star Brian McFadden, who said he "loved Gemma" but found persona The GC "a pain in the backside".

He said on Lorraine: "She gets removed when she's rude. She can be a diva to all the ITV people, but when she's a diva to us she gets blocked."

Gemma Collins hit back when Jason compared her to a 'fridge' in an interview
Gemma Collins hit back when Jason compared her to a 'fridge' in an interviewCredit: Rex Features

Love Island star also felt her wrath when he called her out for sleeping on the job while the others were training.

But by far the most public issue was with Jason Gardiner, who she demanded he stop bullying her with his hurtful remarks about her skating.

After one comment in which he compared her to a fridge, she took to Instagram to have it out.

"I’m really tired of being BULLIED by this man... I wish you would stop... it’s very very upsetting and hurtful let it go Jason stop bullying me ENOUGH is ENOUGH," she wrote.

"I won’t be bullied any more making me feel uncomfortable to come back to the final on Sunday! I was looking forward to Sunday but won’t be anywhere near someone who’s BULLYING me... this is NOT ACCEPTABLE on any level."

Dancing On Ice returns January 15 on ITV1.

 

Tilly Pearce

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