Dancing On Ice in chaos as Greg Rutherford is forced to QUIT show hours before live final after being rushed to hospital with major injury

Dancing On Ice’s Greg Rutherford has been forced to quit the show mere hours before the live final. 

The Olympian, 37, was set to battle it all out against Ryan Thomas, Adele Roberts and Miles Nazaire to lift the trophy this Sunday night, with bookies’ calling it the ‘closest final in history’ with the odds on who would win.

Yet his hopes of taking part have been shattered after he sustained a ‘significant’ injury on the morning of rehearsals. 

His pro partner Vanessa James broke the news in an Instagram post on Sunday, sharing: ‘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.’

An ITV spokesperson added in a statement to MailOnline: ‘Sadly Olympian Greg Rutherford MBE has had to withdraw from Dancing On Ice after sustaining an injury whilst in rehearsals for the final episode of the current series. 

‘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.’

Earlier this week, Greg told The Mirror his time on the competition might be over after sustaining a painful groin injury four weeks ago.

‘I was gutted at first, that’s classic me, an injury right at the wrong time. But due to Sharon, the physio who works for the show, has done a tireless job to keep me going and doing well,’ said the Olympian.

‘We are currently in a situation where, yes, it is still healing and there’s a little bit of soreness and tightness. But I am able to do what we need to do. Thankfully I am here and I’m thrilled to be here as well.’ 

The athlete admitted the last hurdle will be attempting to do the Bolero – although he is ‘happy’ to have made it to the final regardless.

Greg remarked he was also voted best skater out of solo skate, something he called as a ‘really proud moment’.

‘All in all, thrilled to bits, I’m ignoring the fact there’s still a little bit of an injury there but that’s fine. I’m hoping the showcase, everyone loves it, and we get to do the Bolero. Then, who knows at that point, who knows!,’ he added.

Greg previously revealed the show was doing wonders for his health and he was in great shape after losing 7kg since joining the ITV show.

The long jump star added his journey on Dancing On Ice helped him finding a great balance while eating better and training.

Gushing over his experience on the runaway series, Greg admitted he found a ‘complete love and passion’ for ice skating which he ‘didn’t expect to happen’.

The athlete – who is now retired – said the show gave him a purpose for training and ‘feeling better in myself’, which he described as a ‘kick up the bum to stay fit and healthy’.

Elsewhere Ryan Thomas has said that he hopes the final of Dancing On Ice will mean his body can finally recover from undergoing intensive training while on the series. 

The former Coronation Street actor, 39, who played Jason Grimshaw for 16 years will battle it out on Sunday night 

The actor, whose professional skate partner is Amani Fancy, told The Mirror that being nearly 40 meant his body didn’t ‘bounce back as easy’. 

He said: ‘They work you hard and it’s now final week and there’s a lot to take on. And the body’s not far off coming to a standstill. I mean, it takes its toll on your body more than anything else.’ 

Ryan – whose brothers are Strictly Come Dancing star Adam Thomas and former Love Island contestant Scott Thomas – added that his focus was on returning to his family.

He continued: ‘I think that’s the only reason I can get through this because I know at the end, I’ve got my beautiful family to go back to.

‘I live for that, doing the normal every day, taking the kids to school, going to the park, the things I used to take for granted, I will be embracing very much.’

Ryan, shares a daughter Scarlett, 15, with his ex and former Coronation Street star Tina O’Brien, and two children with fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh, who found fame in TOWIE. 

With the end in sight, Ryan stated that the skating has been getting ‘harder and harder’.

The final of Dancing On Ice is on Sunday at 6.25pm.

Most shocking Dancing On Ice injuries EVER from broken bones and sliced scalps to hospital dashes – amid claims the show could be facing the axe 

Dancing On Ice is back on our TV screens for another series, with the latest intake of celebrities battling it out on the rink.

But every year as the competition hits ITV, there are a number of injuries caused by the treacherous ice – with Greg Rutherford, Ryan Thomas and Roxy Shahidi among the victims this year. 

It has prompted fans recently to questioned the safety of the ITV show following several falls and injuries this series.  

In addition, in 2021 after a series of A&E dashes even before launch night, many viewers took to Twitter to claim that the show was ‘stretching the NHS‘.

And now Dancing On Ice judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s decision to retire from skating could signal the beginning of the end for the show following a ratings tumble.

Amid claims the show could be facing the axe MailOnline takes a look at the worst falls and injuries over the year along with a series of other controversies from the show…

Iconic Falls 

Todd Carty surprised everyone (including himself) when he lost his balance and found himself flying down the tunnel during his performance back in 2014. 

Skating alongside his partner Susie Lipanova, suddenly the former EastEnders actor, 60, lost his balance and flew down the tunnel off stage, while Susie completed the routine alone. 

Judge Jason Gardiner said at the time: ‘Todd you’re like a derailed locomotion’, as the star was voted out in week four. 

Meanwhile Gemma Collins took a serious tumble when her graceful routine to Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back To Me Now suffered a bump in the road. 

As the TOWIE star, 42, tripped and fell on the rink back in 2019, her professional partner Matt Evers rushed to her aid. 

Returning to the show as an audience member for the show’s Christmas special later that year, she said: ‘I got so excited, I just went too over the top with my movement, which you’re not allowed to do in ice skating and my toe pick got caught – and bang. 

‘I thought I was dead. I literally thought I was dead.’ 

Joe Pasquale managed to fall off the ice in his week one routine to Queen’s Flash.

Skating towards a podium for the finale of the routine, the actor, 62, flew off the ice and landed in a heap, before quickly clambering to his feet and stumbling to the top of the podium for an epic finish.

Host Christine Lampard joked: ‘Well he not only entertained us, I think he possibly winded himself as well.’ 

Injuries on the ice 

Skating is a famously dangerous sport, and contestants are constantly aware of the perils involved while taking part. 

Brookside actress Jennifer Ellison, 40, accidentally struck herself in the head with her skate while trying to perform a tricky manoeuvre back in 2012. 

Despite the injury during the ‘scorpion kick’ she bravely continued to finish her routine, receiving her highest score up until that point. 

The blonde left the ring as soon as her routine ended to receive medical help with blood pouring from her head. 

Meanwhile in 2006, England goal keeper David Seaman accidentally dropped partner Pam O’Connor during rehearsals. 

The footballer attempted to swing his partner round by her feet only to hit her face on the ice and result in a hospital dash. 

Accusations of bullying   

Supermodel Caprice Bourett accused pro Hamish Gaman of bullying after she exited the show after two weeks in 2020. 

Reports claimed she was ‘poised to sue ITV over the fallout’ and allegations that the skater ‘gaslighted’ her in tough training sessions. 

Caprice was said to have complained about Hamish and the duo were assigned a supervisor to watch their rehearsals.

Despite the allegations, ITV said they ‘found no evidence of bullying’ on the show. 

ITV told MailOnline at the time: ‘We take allegations of bullying very seriously but found no evidence on Dancing On Ice and we strongly refute any suggestion to the contrary.

‘We’re very proud of the team, both on and off screen. They produce a fantastic show and we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works on the programme is fully supported.’

On screen arguments 

Former judge Jason Gardiner, 52, left the show four years ago, following a series that saw him at loggerheads with contestant Gemma Collins. 

The drama between Jason and Gemma played out on the 2019 series, with them at each other’s throats during the critiquing.

It eventually reached boiling point when the TOWIE star accused the judge of ‘selling stories’ about her and her apparent poor work ethic. 

The uproar eventually cost Jason his job on the show and he was replaced in 2018 by John Barrowman, 56 – before he faced the chop due to accusations of inappropriate behaviour. 

But his altercation with Gemma wasn’t his first after he found himself face to face with Denise Welch’s then husband Tim Healy back in 2011. 

After Jason described Denise and Matt’s routine as ‘watching two people playing Twister’ and called her upbeat routine from the week before ‘abysmal’ Tim decided to take matters into his own hands. 

As the audience cheered the Benidorm actor went face to face with Jason as he said: ‘Listen mate she’s 52 and she’s got four jobs, how many jobs have you got?’

‘Oh my God you’re breath!’ exclaimed Jason as he dramatically wafted the air, as Holly joked: ‘You mess with Denise you mess with her husband’. 

Backstage romances 

Just like its rival Strictly Come Dancing, the ITV show is no stranger to the dreaded curse and stars finding love with their professional partners.  

Coronation Street’s Samia Ghadie, 41, split from her co-star Will Thorp and found happiness with French skater Sylvain Longchambon, 43, – with whom she is now married and shares a son.

The budding romance also saw Sylvain split from Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Metcalfe, 40, after also meeting her on the ITV show. 

EastEnders’ Shona McGarty and former co-star Matt Lapinskas ended their romance during his stint on the series, reportedly due to his relationship to partner Brianne Delcourt.

The actor went on to date the professional for a year before the stunner dumped him amid cheating allegations.

David Seaman, 60, also found love with pro Frankie Poultney, 49, after retuning to the show for a second later making her his third wife. 

 Judges battling it out

One of the show’s most memorable moments was Jason and head coach Karen Barber’s on air argument. 

After Karen attempted to offer constructive criticism Johnson Beharry VC, acid-tongued Jason jumped in with a put-down. 

Attacking the former judge he said: ‘Karen if your opinion mattered, you’d still be on the panel’. While Karen clapped calling him ‘offensive’ and questioned what he brought to the show.

Once again finding himself in trouble with bosses Karen reportedly saved him from getting the sack.