Dancing On Ice fans were quick to complain over an ‘unfair’ exit on Sunday night.

It was announced earlier on Sunday, 26 January, that contestant Josh Jones had withdrawn from the ITV skating competition due to sustaining an injury during rehearsals.

Dancing On Ice announced in a statement: “Josh Jones sustained an injury during rehearsals and has had to withdraw from Dancing On Ice. Josh and Tippy’s partnership will be greatly missed. We will be helping to support Josh and wish him well with his recovery.”

Many viewers had hoped that this would mean no celebrity would leave on Sunday night due to Josh’s, 32, exit from the competition. One person said: “They are now two celebrities down-I wonder if they will have a week without a skate-off?”, a different account wrote: “Please don’t send anyone home tonight give everyone a pass to next Sunday please” while another added: “I hope no one goes out tonight!”

Later in the show, following the vote, Ferne McCann was eliminated
Later in the show, following the vote, Ferne McCann was eliminated

However, Dancing On Ice still proceeded with the elimination as they revealed the skate-off had been ditched. Host, Holly Willoughby, said: “Tonight, there are no second chances, the lowest placed couple will go straight out the competition with no skate-off to save them!”

Later in the show, following the vote, Ferne McCann was eliminated as the tearful TOWIE star admitted she was ‘gutted’. Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers expressed their dissatisfaction over the ‘unfair’ exit especially as Ferne and professional partner Brendyn Hatfield scored 28 points and were middle of the leaderboard.

One person said: “It’s a stupid and unfair idea not to have a skate off. I don’t know who thought of it #DOI #DancingOnIce”, a different account wrote: “Hate theres no skate off. Makes it just a popularity contest and not much about skill. Shame. #dancingonice” while another added: “Why is there no skate off ? #doi #dancingonice.”

Elsewhere, another wrote: “Gutted for Ferne, she didn’t deserve to leave #DancingOnIce”, a different account put: “Ferne didn’t deserve to go, she looked amazing and did well her routine was good! #dancingonice”, another said: “Don’t understand dropping the skate off – it’s madness, Ferne didn’t deserve to go at all!” while a different viewer added: “I feel sorry for Ferne she skated well too, she couldn’t believe it and is gutted #Dancingonice.”

Dancing On Ice fans were quick to complain over an 'unfair' exit on Sunday night
The tearful TOWIE star admitted she was ‘gutted’ ( 
Image:
ITV)
It comes as Josh found himself in the bottom two on last week’s show with Chelsee Healey. The Hollyoaks actress, 36, and her professional skating partner Andy Buchanan ended up at the bottom of the leaderboard on week one with a score of 22 after the first batch of contestants had performed.

After the remaining celebrities competed last week, Chelsee and Josh, who picked up a score of 20.5 earlier in the night for his routine, found themselves in the bottom two.

The judges and viewers’ votes for each dance were combined, leaving Chelsee with the lowest score and as a result, she became the first to leave the competition.

Viewers have since suggested that Chelsee should be brought back to the show now Josh has left. Taking to Twitter, now X, one person said: “Bring Chelsee back!”, a different account put: “Bring back Chelsea then”, another wrote: “That mean Chelsea can come back?” while a different fan added: “@dancingonice should bring @chelseehealey back now then instead as it seems unfair #DancingOnIce #DOI.”