Dancing on Ice is set to introduce a major format change this weekend following a slew of Ofcom complaints after last weekend's show.
The celebrity skating competition has been faced with a series of Ofcom complaints after Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu took to the ice in the first episode of the series. Her racy outfit sparked 112 complaints to the TV regulator, as viewers at the time claimed it was 'not appropriate' before the watershed.
Entering its third week, the show is set to keep things fresh as it axes the dreaded skate-off following John Fashanu's elimination last weekend.
Viewers are used to tuning in and see the two couples who received the fewest votes from the public skate once again to save their place on the show. However this weekend's episode will see all the show's couples scored by the judges, before being combined with the public's vote so the lowest-scoring pair will be sent home.
The format change will definitely ramp up the pressure for contestants to perform well on the ice, as the stars will no longer rely on being saved by the judges Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo, according to The Sun.
A show source told the publication: “You might think there being no dreaded skate off would be a good thing, but actually it means the celebs have no safety net - there’ll be no saving of favourites, or forgiving a misstep.
“The celeb will be judged entirely on how they skate and how the audience reacts to that skate. The stakes are higher than ever.”
The news was confirmed on Good Morning Britain on Friday that there will be no skate off this weekend. This comes after reality star Ekin-Su landed in the dreaded skate off with footballer John Fashanu, who ultimately became the first star axed alongside his professional partner Alexandra Schauman.
John had joked seconds earlier that he knew he hadn't done enough to stay on the show, while Ekin-Su was visibly relieved to make it through after a tough first week. She had vowed to prove herself in the skate-off, working hard after being left "upset" over the public vote the week before.
The Love Island winner, 28, recreated her notorious villa crawl when she sneakily kissed Scots star Jay Younger during the routine, which host Holly Willoughby described as the show's 'sexiest ever skate'.
Ekin-Su scored a total vote of 21.5 points from the judges, as Ashley Banjo gave her a 5.5, Oti Mabuse scored her a 6, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean both a 5.
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