DANCING On Ice viewers slammed the figure skating show for overwhelming the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
In Sunday’s premiere episode, viewers saw how multiple competitors – both celebrity and professional skaters – were rushed to A&E after suffering horrific injuries in rehearsals.
Early in the show former Olympic skier Graham Bell, admitted he feels “so guilty” after partner Yebin “lost a chunk of her leg” when he fell over and cut her.
American skater Yebin, 36, was badly injured when Graham’s skate stabbed her in the shin.
Footage showed Yebin being dramatically carried off the ice on a medical stretcher and the injury has forced her off the ice for the foreseeable future.
Next, viewers watched as popular presenter Denise Van Outen discolated her shoulder during rehearsals with pro partner, Matt Evers.
Denise fell to the ice as Matt fell heavily on top of her and she had to go to the hospital to ensure nothing was broken.
The 46-year-old actress refused to let her painful injury force her out of the competition, and viewers were blown away by her commitment as she performed on Sunday.
Finally, viewers grew more annoyed as the third horrific injury showed Rebekah Vardy accidentally slicing open the face of her partner Andy Buchanan.
Just days out from the show’s premiere, Andy suffered a massive gash to his face as Rebekah’s skate slashed him.
A preview video before their performance, saw Andy flipping Rebekah over his arm when her skate’s blade connected with his face.
The blade left a huge gash right by his nose, which hospital staff decided to tape up rather than close with stitches.
Dancing On Ice viewers were enraged the show would put any extra burden on the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic, calling it “irresponsible”.
One Twitter user wrote: “UK Gov: ‘don’t put unnecessary strain on the NHS’. ITV: let’s strap knives to celebrities’ feet.”
Another added: “it’s a bit strange that they all keep going to casualty. A bit inconsiderate to the NHS at this time, surely.”
And a third said: “Just watched first episode of Dancing On Ice. Two people had to go to A and E because of skating accidents. Our NHS is pushed to capacity at the moment. Surely skating isn’t essential just now !!”
Dancing On Ice’s premiere episode came after NHS England’s top boss today revealed someone is being admitted to hospital with coronavirus “every thirty seconds”.
NHS England Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens refused to “sugar coat” the “staggering” figures as he warned both hospitals and staff are under “extreme pressure”.
He said there have been 15,000 more hospital in-patients across England since Christmas Day, adding: “Staggeringly, every thirty seconds across England another patient is being admitted to hospital with coronavirus.”
A total of 37,475 people were in hospital in the UK as of 4pm yesterday – a record number and more than double the peak of the first wave.
Tonight’s episode of Dancing On Ice saw half the competitors compete including, Jason Donavon, Lady Leshurr, Denise Van Outen, Rebekah Vardy, Joe Warren-Plant and Rufus Hound.
Lady Leshurr and Joe Warren-Plant landed in the bottom two shocking fans, but the public voted for the rappers to save her place on the show by dancing in next week’s ‘Skate to Save’.
