Ben Foden becomes first celebrity to be eliminated from 'Dancing On Ice'
Ben Foden has become the first celebrity to be eliminated from Dancing On Ice.
The rugby star received his marching orders on Sunday night after he and pro partner Robin Johnstone landed in the skate-off against TV star Ria Hebden and her partner Lukasz Rozycki.
Foden said he had loved his time on the ITV show – and that all the people involved “made” the experience for him.
Read more: Rachel Stevens says wrist healed 'really well' and confirms Dancing On Ice return
He told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield he thought there was a very high standard on the show this year.
“I had thought that there would be someone who couldn’t skate. Turns out it's me!” he joked.
Foden and Johnstone had scored just 23.5 out of 40 for their routine to 'Livin’ La Vida Loca'.
Delivering their verdict, the judges voted to save Hebden.
Oti Mabuse said she thought the TV star and her partner had been “more confident and enjoyable” and that they had "taken more risks”.
Ashley Banjo said that after looking at all the elements he felt that Hebden skated better.
Sunday night’s instalment of the competition also saw Paralympian Stefanie Reid, Love Island's Liberty Poole, Paul Gascoigne’s son Regan Gascoigne and Connor Ball from The Vamps take to the ice.
What a way to start the show... @ben_foden is simply the chest #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/zx35z9rDxF
— Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) January 23, 2022
Rachel Stevens – who had to miss her Dancing On Ice debut after injuring herself – was in the audience and confirmed she would be on the ice next week.
Happy Mondays star Bez, who has been self-isolating after testing positive for COVID, was also there to cheer on the contestants.
Read more: Dancing On Ice: Happy Mondays Bez performs in watermelon crash helmet
He told the hosts that he was feeling fine and had been “one of the lucky ones" who didn’t have symptoms.
He also said he considered himself to have been “in hibernation” because he was sleeping all the time.
Watch: Bez suffers dramatic head-banging fall in Dancing On Ice training