frosty reception
Dancing On Ice’s biggest scandals and disasters EVER from a sliced scalp to stage invasions
It comes ahead of a new DOI series in January
From Rebekah Vardy’s blades of danger to Bez’s crash helmet,
Dancing On Ice always brings the drama…
Horror injuries, bust-ups with judges and plenty of dislocated shoulders: Dancing On Ice is fraught with danger.
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It’s the show that has us hiding behind the cushion squealing: “No! Not the headbanger!” as the amateur skaters risk reputation and limb on the slippery stuff.
This season is no different, with Dame Sarah Storey already having to pull out of the competition after fracturing her ankle in
training.
From fall-outs to pull-outs, here are just a few of the hideous things that have happened to celebs and pro skaters over the years.
2021 – Rebekah Vardy’s blade mishap
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Jamie Vardy’s wife didn’t hold back in her Dancing On Ice training, so
much so that she sliced pro partner Andy Buchanan’s face open with her skate while they were rehearsing a trick.
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He was rushed to hospital after Rebekah’s heel hit him. “It was quite
scary. But it brings back the realisation that what we’re doing is really
bloody dangerous,” she said.
In a year that was blighted by Covid and injuries, Rebekah was eventually sent home after she lost a skate-off with Brummie rapper Lady Leshurr.
2006 - David Seaman’s headbanger horror
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You’d think you’d be in safe hands with the ex-England goalie, but sadly his partner Pam O’Connor found the opposite was true when they attempted the dangerous headbanger move.
David slipped and dropped her on the ice in rehearsals and she had to
have her chin stitched up.
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When doctors told her not to perform again, David was paired with Natalia Pestova, who he also dropped on the ice in
the live show.
2019 – Gemma Collins vs Jason Gardiner
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Don’t mess with The GC. But acid-tongued judge Jason did when he
unleashed a barrage of criticism at the TOWIE legend.
Rebekah Vardy injures parter Andy Buchanan during Dancing On Ice rehearsals
Gemma already had a reputation as an Ice diva when she channelled Marilyn Monroe for a routine and when Jason criticised her lack of elegance, she accused him of selling stories about her.
DOI’s former critic doubled down on his comments, saying he was excited to see Gemma skate at first as she was so confident, but branded her ‘lazy’.
“She came out and did what can only be described as one of the
most painful routines I’ve ever had to sit through because it looked so uncomfortable,” he said.
2012 – Jennifer Ellison’s sliced scalp
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It was one of the most gruesome injuries the reality show has seen, with blood on the ice.
Dancing On Ice 2025 full line-up revealed
EastEnders legend Charlie Brooks
Traitors finalist Mollie Pearce
Coronation Street favourite Sam Aston
Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave
Towie's Ferne McCann
Comedian Josh Jones
Springwatch presenter Michaela Strachan
Towie's Dan Edgar
Love Island's Chris Taylor
Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey
Ex-Footballer Anton Ferdinand
Paralympian Dame Sarah Story
Jennifer attempted the daring and difficult Scorpion Kick,
but threw her leg so high that she sliced her own head open.
Like a pro, she carried on with spins, the splits and praise from the judges, only realising the extent of her injury when she noticed her hair was covered in blood.
Like a real trouper, she and partner Daniel Whiston finished in fourth place.
2014 - Todd Carty’s tunnel tumble
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Never has a DOI contestant struggled to stay on their feet as much as
EastEnders icon Todd Carty.
His finest moment was spiralling out of control and disappearing back down the frosty tunnel to the strains of The Beatles’ Help.
2020 – Caprice’s sudden exit
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In a tricky year plagued by illness, Caprice Bourret parted ways with her pro partner Hamish Gaman in the second week of the live shows.
The model was then paired with Oscar Peter for a lively twirl to Toni Basil’s Mickey that didn’t impress the judges.
She said she quit the show for the sake of her mental health and hit out at Hamish and show bosses.
2022 - Bez’s twisted melon
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The Happy Mondays maraca shaker cemented his place as a living legend by being the first contestant to wear a crash helmet on the ice.
His dance to the band’s baggy classic Step On was a particular highlight because he even managed a lift and a tiny jump. Judge Christopher Dean awarded him a three: “a mark for turning up, a mark for standing up and a mark for that jump.” Spoiler alert: he didn’t win.
2024 - Greg Rutherford’s horror injury
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Athlete Greg Rutherford was all set to go through to the final with his partner, Vanessa James, when disaster struck.
He was forced out by an injury in rehearsal when – and look away now if you’re squeamish – ripped open his stomach with a skate and tore his abs and “I effectively game myself a C-section,” he said as he recovered.
2011 – Tim Healy’s stage invasion
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When Denise Welch struggled with her skating, judges, including Emma Bunton, gave her constructive criticism.
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But Jason couldn’t hold back, calling her routine with Matt Evers “abysmal” and comparing it to a game of Twister.
As the audience booed, the Loose Woman star’s then husband Tim Healy piled in and confronted Jason at his desk. “Sit down!” ordered an embarrassed Denise as she tried to calm her fiery man down.
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