Yahoo Finance Gemma Collins returns to 'Dancing On Ice' as viewers slam 'non-essential travel'
Dancing On Ice’s most notorious contestant made a return to the show tonight - Gemma Collins was back on the rink, leaving some viewers criticising her for non-essential travel.
The Towie star was responsible for some of the ITV contest’s most-watched moment when she appeared in the 2019 series and launched into a bitter row with then judge Jason Gardiner, as well as falling flat on her face during one routine.
But this time, there were no dramatic falls or spats over selling stories as she was simply there to announce a competition to win £120,000.
Collins descended from the studio ceiling in a pink sequinned gown, perched in a ring to make her big entrance with none of the drama that her performances in 2018 included.
She said: “I’m so happy to be here this evening, it’s amazing to be back.”
However, some viewers complained that they didn’t see Collins’ appearance on the show as essential travel under COVID guidelines.
Her segment announcing the competition took a matter of seconds, and some argued that hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield could have done the job themselves.
Why did they get Gemma Collins on just to announce the competition? Phil & Holly could have done that themselves #DancingOnIce
— Julie Smith (@JulieSmith2001) January 24, 2021
Joe Swash last week Gemma Collins this week. Non essential travel #DancingOnIce
— Gail 💙 (@GroovyGail57) January 24, 2021
#DancingOnIce good to see Gemma Collins making an essential journey to be craned into the rink.
— the howling (@thehowling69) January 24, 2021
Elsewhere, last week’s golden ticket winner Rufus Hound was missing from the studio as he is currently self isolating.
Viewers also saw the aftermath of the horrific accident that has put Graham Bell’s pro partner Yebin Mok out of the competition for the moment, although they didn’t show the actual fall that left Mok stabbed in the leg by Bell’s skate.
As Mok was stretchered off the ice, Bell said: “I feel really guilty.”
Mok confirmed: “I definitely won’t be able to skate for at least the first two weeks.”
Denise Van Outen, who was also injured in training before her debut last week, was in the audience wearing a sequinned sling - showing that she’s still battling with her dislocated shoulder.
Watch: All the best moments from the first episode of Dancing On Ice
