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'Dancing On Ice' hit with complaints over semi-final judging

Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby attending the launch of Dancing On Ice 2020, held at Bovingdon Airfield, Hertfordshire.
Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby attending the launch of Dancing On Ice 2020

Dancing On Ice has been hit with complaints over the judging in the weekend’s semi-final.

Sunday night’s instalment of the ITV show saw magician Ben Hanlin handed his marching orders and gliding out of the ice-skating competition.

However, some viewers were unimpressed with the judging and broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has confirmed it has received 17 complaints.

Read more: Dancing On Ice has coronavirus measures in place

Four skaters had made it through to the semi-final – Hanlin, Paralympian Libby Clegg, Diversity dancer Perri Kiely and actor and presenter Joe Swash.

After a skate-off between Hanlin and Clegg, judges Ashley Banjo, John Barrowman, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean decided to send Hanlin home and waved Clegg through to the grand final.

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Many fans tuning in to the tense semi-final thought the magician and his professional skating partner Carlotta Edwards should have remained in the competition.

Read more: Stars hail DOI’s first same sex dance

One person on Twitter said: “Ben should have stayed, won’t be watching the final. I wholeheartedly think Libby is fantastic with managing her disability but other dancers are being penalised.”

“Absolute joke Ben being voted off after the skate off,” said another.

One tweeted: “In my heart @benhanlin and @_carlottamarie are the winners of dancing on ice. The judges robbed them this week.

“Honestly Ben is one of the best celebrity skaters so far.”

Complaints to Ofcom were not limited to the judging, with presenter Holly Willoughby coming under fire for her dress.

The TV star’s outfits are often a talking point and her semi-final dress was no exception, with Ofcom confirming it had received four complaints about the low-cut number.

Dancing On Ice continues on ITV.