Denise Van Outen has announced via her Instagram account that she has sadly had to withdraw from the Dancing On Ice 2021 competition. Having had a scan this morning, to check on the progress of a shoulder injury sustained from a fall on the ice whilst training, it has been determined that she cannot continue to skate whilst she recuperates.

Link to Denise’s announcement here: https://bit.ly/3a4Vt9H

Matt Evers, her professional skating partner, said: “Denise has worked so incredibly hard these past few months and I'm devastated that she’s unable to show everyone what a beautiful skater she’s become. It’s sad that the competition must end now for both Denise and I but it’s most important that she takes the time to heal and recover. I loved our time on the ice together and I love the wonderful friendship that we will always have. I’m gutted to have Denise leave the show and equally gutted that last Sunday’s hug will be my last for a while.”

A spokesperson for Dancing on Ice said: “We adore Denise and Matt and we’re so very sad to see them leave the competition so soon. They are both much loved members of the Dancing On Ice family and we’d like to thank them for their hard work, from the moment they began training through to the joyful performances they brought to the show. We wish Denise all the very best as she now takes some time to make a full recovery.”

With the departure of Denise Van Outen and Matt Evers, a new couple will step into the main cast with Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler and her pro-skater partner Joe Johnson joining the line up from this weekend.