This year’s Dancing On Ice contestants have not had it easy. As well as the difficult task of learning how to figure skate in just a few months, many of the celebrities have battled injuries and illnesses. It seems barely a week has passed without one of the contestants getting injured – from Love Island’s Kem Cetinay cracking his head on the ice to Cheryl Baker needing an MRI after falling on her arm.
Just a few weeks ago, Antony Cotton was rushed to hospital after fracturing two ribs in rehearsals and poor Monty Panesar was forced to pull out before the show even began after breaking his ankle in training.
Even the show’s professional skaters are suffering, with Melody Le Moal and Vanessa Bauer both being struck down with viruses.
GALLERY: Who are the 2018 Dancing On Ice pro skaters?
Who are the professional ice skating dancers on Dancing On Ice 2018?
1 of 14Melody Le Moal
Melody is 30-years-old and is from France.
2 of 14Brandee Malto
Brandee is 37 from the USA, and has been partnered with Corrie's Antony Cotton for the next series of Dancing On Ice.
3 of 14Ale Izquierdo
Ale is 28 and is from Mexico, and will be skating with rugby player Max Exans.
4 of 14Megan 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.
5 of 14Brianne Delcourt
Canadian Brianne is 36-years-old.
6 of 14Vanessa Bauer
At 21, Vanessa from Germany is the youngest of the professional skaters.
7 of 14Sylvain 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.
8 of 14Hamish Gaman
Hamish is one of only two British professional dancers, and is 34 from England.
9 of 14Matt 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.
10 of 14Dan Whiston
Dan has previously won the show several times - will he be lucky again this year?
11 of 14Matej Silecky
Matej is 23 and from the USA.
12 of 14Lloyd 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.
13 of 14Alex Murphy
Alex has been brought in to replace Megan Marschall as Kem Cetinay's partner after she quit the show.
14 of 14Mark Hanretty
Mark has been added to the cast late to replace Lloyd Jones as Donna Air's partner after he quit the show.
In a desperate bid to keep sickness at bay, DOI bosses are now reportedly urging contestants to use hand sanitiser and eat fruit.
“All the celebs and professionals are incredibly paranoid and bosses are desperate for everyone to stay healthy. There’s loads of hand sanitiser around the studio and everyone’s being encouraged to use it. They’ve put bowls of fruit out too,” a show insider told The Sun.
The source also revealed that sick stars are being kept away their partners, adding: “When Jake’s partner was ill, she was put in isolation so she didn’t affect anyone.”
Ale Izquierdo, who is partnered with Max Evans, has had to pull out of this week’s show after a serious case of flu has stopped her from training and performing. Max will now skate with Brandee Malto on Sunday.