HOLLY Willoughby has recalled her horror at being stuck in the middle of one of Dancing On Ice’s biggest on-screen rows while pregnant with her son Chester.
The star was discussing Jason Gardiner and Karen Barber’s infamous 2011 fight on last night’s Dancing on Ice: The Greatest Show on Ice – when she revealed her fear of being caught between them as things escalated.
Holly Willoughby recalled being stuck between Jason Gardiner and Karen Barber’s infamous 2011 fingerCredit: ITV
Fans of the ITV skating show will remember the pair got personal after disagreeing over Johnson Beharry’s performance.
Although Karen was left in tears by his routine, Jason, 49, claimed that the British soldier hadn’t progressed.
In light of his comments, the former figure skater began defending Johnson’s performance when Jason made a brutal quip about her being replaced on the judging panel.
The Australian choreographer told her: “If your opinion still mattered, you’d be on the panel.”
The pair clashed over Johnson Beharry’s performanceCredit: ITVITV
Karen was left furious by the cutting remark and asked Jason to repeat it, which he did.
Walking closer to the judging panel, the athlete then told him he brought nothing to the show and branded him “offensive” – leaving poor Holly stuck in the middle of them
The then pregnant star managed to calm the fraught situation as she defended Karen and moved the pint-sized skater away.
Reflecting on the fight a decade later, Phillip Schofield, 58, admitted there was nothing he could do to help his co-host in the moment.
Holly had to move Karen awayCredit: ITV
Holly, 40, shared: “I just remember thinking, ‘I’m standing here on my own having to deal with all of this and I’m pregnant.'”
To which Phillip confessed: “There was nothing I could do to help you!”
The comments come as Holly admitted she was “absolutely terrified” hosting the first ever Dancing on Ice with Phillip.
Holly admitted she was absolutely terrified hosting the first ever Dancing on Ice
The pair have worked together for years on the ITV skating show and This Morning, it’s hard to remember a time when they didn’t stand side by side.
But on last night’s Dancing on Ice: The Greatest Show on Ice, which looked back over the most memorable moments in the show’s history, the first ever episode was revisited.
In a voiceover, Phil said: “Despite hosting together for the first time, Holly and I were ready.”
Holly and Phil have worked together ever since on this and This Morning
Holly responded: “Speak for yourself, I was absolutely terrified.”
The first show aired on January 6, 2006 and Holly hosted alongside Phil until 2011 before returning when the show relaunched in 2018.
Holly and Phil’s success as a hosting duo on the skating show lead to Holly taking over from Fern Britton beside Phil on This Morning in 2009.
Last night’s special episode comes after bosses decided to give the contestants on the current series a week off.
The move came after two stars had to withdraw due to injury while Rufus Hound and Joe-Warren Plant had to leave the show after testing positive for coronavirus.
To top it off, Jason Donovan had to miss last week’s show after injuring his back and pro-skater Hamish Gaman had to withdraw after injuring his finger.
