Dancing On Ice in disarray as Greg Rutherford forced to quit over injury hours before live final

Olympian taken to hospital after sustaining injury in fall during rehearsals for Sunday’s finale
Greg Rutherford was set to appear in Dancing On Ice’s finale
PA Wire
Josh Salisbury10 March 2024
The Weekender

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Dancing On Ice has been thrown into disarray after contestant Greg Rutherford was forced to pull out hours before the final.

Rutherford, 37, will not take part in the finale after suffering an injury in rehearsals, which required a trip to the hospital.

His professional skate partner, Vanessa James, said it meant the duo would now not be competing, leaving only three pairs battling it out.

Announcing the news, Ms James said: “Unfortunately Greg has sustained a significant injury this morning at rehearsals and won’t be able to perform tonight.

“We are on our way to the hospital for Greg to get examined further and receive the treatment he needs."

Rutherford confirmed the news on social media, telling fans he was “devastated”.

A spokesperson for the show said: "Greg and Vanessa have been such a popular couple this series and have performed some truly memorable routines.

“We will be helping to support Greg and wish him well with his recovery. We also want to thank him for being such a treasured member of the Dancing on Ice family."

Details on the precise nature of the injury were not given. 

Radio presenter Adele Roberts, Made In Chelsea star Miles Nazaire, and former Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas are set to perform as the final three.

In the final of the 16th series, judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse will watch on as the celebrities perform for the last time.

The show, presented by Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby, combines scores from the public and the judges before the bottom two take to the ice in a skate-off.

Last week’s programme saw Love Island star Amber Davies booted off the show alongside her partner Simon Proulx-Senecal after they skated to Power by Little Mix.

This year’s 12 celebrity skaters have also included Olympic ski jumper Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, S Club 7’s Hannah Spearritt and former professional boxer Ricky Hatton.

There was also Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney, former EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood, Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi and comedian Lou Sanders.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Torvill and Dean’s gold medal win at the Winter Olympics in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Sunday evening the celebrities will perform a routine, inspired by the skating duo’s performance to Ravel’s Bolero in Sarajevo at the 1984 Games.

Dancing On Ice 2024 has seen Mulhern take on presenting duties alongside Willoughby, after her former co-host Phillip Schofield departed ITV in May 2023.

Last year, Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson and his skating partner Olivia Smart were crowned the champions.

The final of Dancing On Ice will air at 6.25pm on ITV1.

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