It is fair to say that Hayley Tamaddon has really shone during this series of Dancing On Ice and reports suggest that this is no coincidence. The Sunday People has reported that fellow competitors have been complaining that Hayley was a stand-by skater on the 2008 series and so has had much more experience than them.

One anonymous contestant explained: “Hayley and [her professional partner] Dan [Whiston] definitely are not popular within the group – they haven’t made much effort to get involved.

“It would be fair to say that several people dislike her, even hate her. She is the butt of a lot of bitching sessions.”

The source also claimed that Hayley has been skating since she was a teenager.

“Nobody else really stands a chance,” the source added. “She’s had two years knowing there was a high chance she was going on, so she has put the preparation in. The talk among some is that it is a fix.”

However, a spokesperson for the show said: “Hayley has never been a standby contestant. She told us she has never skated before.”