Dancing On Ice’s Matt Richardson wobbles about on skates as he’s thrust onto the show after Rufus Hound axed
DANCING On Ice's Matt Richardson wobbled on his skates after replacing Covid-stricken Rufus Hound on the show.
Matt, 29, broke his silence with a video on Instagram after The Sun revealed he is replacing Rufus, 41, on the ITV talent show.
The comedian and former Xtra Factor presenter showed off his skills after being thrust into the spotlight.
He wrote alongside a video on Instagram: "Is that… is that Christopher Dean? No, just me guys being so amazing.
";This is good enough to be on the show in 3 days, right? @dancingonice"
Matt will skate with professional Vicky Ogden.
It comes after The Sun told how bosses had changed rules meaning as of Monday a positive diagnosis meant celebrities or skaters were out.
Insiders say those affected would not be qualified to safely skate having missed up to two weeks of training.
Previously, celebs would have been allowed a bye but only for one week.
Rufus had already missed two weeks of Dancing On Ice after being told he must self isolate after getting a Test and Trace notification.
He subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 meaning he had to stay at home by law.
But having completed his period of quarantine, he tested positive again meaning ITV producers have told him he must leave the competition.
Rufus confirmed the news, tweeting: "I will no longer be participating in @dancingonice.
"COVID is - as I'm sure we're all well aware - a b*****d and sadly the world isn't short of those."
Viewers had called for ITV bosses to axe Hound last month over his ‘outrageous’ comments about the Manchester Arena bombing which triggered a falling out with his professional skating partner Robin Johnstone.
He suggested then-PM Theresa May orchestrated the 2017 bombing to help win the Election.
Rufus also urged fans to buy a record glorifying rape and joked about the killing of Jews in past tweets, it emerged last month.