Dancing on Ice 2021

UPDATE: Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler and her pro-skater partner Joe Johnson will be replacing Denise and her partner Matt from this weekend.

NEWS: Olympic gymnast @amytinkler2 and her pro-skater partner @JoeJohnsonIce will be joining the Dancing on Ice line up from this weekend after Denise Van Outen and Matt Evers have had to withdraw from the competition due to Denise’s injury. #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/BA0J3r9my8

— Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) January 26, 2021

I’m surprised that DOI had a back up pairing but Strictly didn’t but I assume Strictly had less time to prepare

Strictly's withdrawal was a bit further in and they had the cusion of planning to have 5 in the final so could easily cope with one or two, or perhaps even three, couples withdrawing.

DOI have had backups before. Obviously situations a little different this year with CoVid and all, but when Michael Underwood pulled out in 2008, Zara Abrahams was ready to step in.




I believe the main reason Strictly has a four person final most years is in case of a withdrawal, as has happened a few times, they'll still have 3 in the final. The years (Series 4, 5 and 7) when it was two in the final, the whole night was a bit repetitive and a little full on. I know a fair number of people on the DS Strictly forums said they preferred three in the final.

Like you said as well, Strictly made plans for a 5 person final in 2020, which sounded excessive, but was done as a precaution in case anyone had to withdraw.

Strictly does have backups as Kelvin Fletcher was able to replace Jamie Laing when he had to pull out in 2019 but I suppose with the situation was unclear last year, they didn't want to take that risk.

I'm surprised they planned to have a five person finale, I think if they'd got to the semis with six people then a double elimination would make more sense.

Strictly only has backups until the shows start, such as with Kelvin (who according to some rumours, was going to sign for DOI until the Strictly opportunity arrived). Yvette Fielding said she was a backup one year, but I can't remember which one.

Billie won’t be skating this week as her grandmother has died.

Rufus Hound isn't skating neither. (According to Lorraine)

Strictly have back-up celebrities (Kelvin Fletcher was one in 2019) - but I think they only plan to call on them until the show has started viewer voting. Once the show has started 'proper' they have backup plans for reduced numbers of contestants (such as when John Sergeant decided to duck out)

Makes sense - he's self-isolating and missed last week's show for the same reason.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/13835783/why-rufus-hound-not-dancing-ice-tonight/

Missing two weeks in a row should mean getting the boot though.

I can imagine it will from now on. But last week & the week before saw half the contestants perform each week (so kind of counting as week 1 collectively)

Yes, he skated in week 1 (having been advanced a week due to an injury in one of the pairs who were supposed to be skating) so didn't miss an individual performance last week. The general rule in these shows is you can get a bye for one week, not too.