Dancing On Ice bosses have confirmed that Max Evans'professional skating partner Ale Izquierdo will NOT be performing in Sunday's live show...
Dancing On Ice made a triumphant return to our TV screens this year - but it's not all be plain sailing for the ice skating show.
The show has been beset by injury and illnesses - one contestant, former England cricketer Monty Panesar, was forced to pull out before the show even began!
Since then, barely a week has gone by without some disaster befalling the show...
Love Island star Kem Cetinay cracked his head on the ice before the show even hit screens.
GALLERY: Who are the 2018 Dancing On Ice pro skaters?
Who are the professional ice skating dancers on Dancing On Ice 2018?
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b693/5168/6115/48b1/b461/dancing-on-ice-1-melody-le-moal.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Melody Le Moal
Melody is 30-years-old and is from France.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b693/5168/6115/48b1/b45e/dancing-on-ice-2-brandee-malto.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Brandee Malto
Brandee is 37 from the USA, and has been partnered with Corrie's Antony Cotton for the next series of Dancing On Ice.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b692/5168/6115/48b1/b45c/dancing-on-ice-3-ale-izquierdo.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Ale Izquierdo
Ale is 28 and is from Mexico, and will be skating with rugby player Max Exans.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a1c/05eb/2f90/865c/9689/eeeb/dancing-on-ice-4-megan-marschall2.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Megan Marschall
Megan is 25 and from the USA. Unfortunately, she has now dropped out of the show after blazing rows with her ex-boyfriend and co-star, Lloyd Jones.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b693/5168/6115/48b1/b45d/dancing-on-ice-5-brianne-delcourt.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Brianne Delcourt
Canadian Brianne is 36-years-old.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b693/5168/6115/48b1/b460/dancing-on-ice-6-vanessa-bauer.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Vanessa Bauer
At 21, Vanessa from Germany is the youngest of the professional skaters.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b693/5168/6115/48b1/b462/dancing-on-ice-7-sylvain-longchambon.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Sylvain Longchambon
Dancing On Ice fans will be happy to see the return of Sylvain, who met his now-wife Samia - better known as Maria from Coronation Street.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b694/5168/6115/48b1/b463/dancing-on-ice-8-hamish-gaman.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Hamish Gaman
Hamish is one of only two British professional dancers, and is 34 from England.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b694/5168/6115/48b1/b465/dancing-on-ice-9-matt-evers.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Matt Evers
Fans of the show will also be happy to see 41-year-old Matt returning as a professional dancer. He has been paired with Bake Off winner Candice Brown.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b694/5168/6115/48b1/b466/dancing-on-ice-11-dan-whiston.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Dan Whiston
Dan has previously won the show several times - will he be lucky again this year?
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a05/b694/5168/6115/48b1/b467/dancing-on-ice-12-matej-silecky.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Matej Silecky
Matej is 23 and from the USA.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a1c/0645/2f90/865c/9689/eef1/dancing-on-ice-10-lloyd-jones2.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lloyd Jones
29-year-old Lloyd Jones was the only Welshman among the professionals, and was due to be skating with Donna Air on the new series. However, he has now dropped out of the show after "blazing rows" with his ex-girlfriend and co-star, Megan Marschall.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a1c/074b/2f90/865c/9689/ef02/dancing-on-ice-13-alex-murphy.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Alex Murphy
Alex has been brought in to replace Megan Marschall as Kem Cetinay's partner after she quit the show.
![Dancing On Ice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a1c/07c5/2f90/865c/9689/ef16/dancing-on-ice-14-mark-hanretty.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Mark Hanretty
Mark has been added to the cast late to replace Lloyd Jones as Donna Air's partner after he quit the show.
Then, just weeks ago, Corrie actor Anthony Cotton (who upset viewers with his 'bad attitude' before being booted off the show last week) was rushed to hospital after fracturing TWO ribs in rehearsals!
And 63-year-old Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker was forced to have an MRI scan after falling on her arm!
And it's not just been skating injuries - a few weeks ago a nasty virus swept the contestants and judges, leaving the show in jeopardy!
WATCH: Torvil and Dean answer Closer's quick-fire questions!
And now Dancing On Ice bosses have comfirmed that professional skater Ale Izquierdo - who dances with Rugby player Max Evans - won't be taking part in Sunday's live show due to illness.
In a short and concise statement issued to press, they said: "Owing to illness, Max Evan's partner Ale will not be performing this weekend. He will instead be dancing alongside Brandee Malto."
However Ale went into a lot more detail on her Instagram page, writing: "Sadly I’m making this post to announce that unfortunately I won’t be able to take part of the competition this Sunday due to being diagnosed with the flu.
"Unfortunately after a few days of not feeling good, and a visit to the hospital, now production has made the decision that I won’t be allowed to skate on Sunday so I can properly recover and won’t spread it around to my partner, the rest of the cast and production.
"However I would like to say that I wish and hope with all my heart that my partner does an amazing job this Sunday. He will be skating with my really good friend Brandee (who has been part of the competition and got eliminated in last week round) and I truly hope they both do really good, and make it through this week, so I have the chance to remain in the competition the following week since my beautiful mom is flying in next week to hopefully see me skate in the semifinal.
"Fingers crossed it all goes good for them while I get to recover and hopefully get the chance to skate for my mother!
"A massive thanks to the gorgeous @justbrandee for being such a trooper and taking my place to fight for me! ❤️ @maxevans13 @dancingonice "
Ale - we really hope you feel better soon!
And Max and Brandee - best of luck for Sunday!