You’d be forgiven for thinking that things might be a little tense between Louie Spence and Jason Gardiner at the minute, after Jason got dropped from the Dancing On Ice judging panel when the show returned last month and his pal waltzed straight in and took his place.

However, Louie has claimed that nothing could be further from the truth.

He insists that despite Gardiner’s claims that he was ‘pushed out’ of the show and did not want to leave, he doesn’t blame Spence for his axing and doesn’t mind that it was his friend that got his job.

In fact the Pineapple Dance Studios star says that he and Jason are still close friends and that his new role hasn’t come between them at all.

During an interview on This Morning, Louie said:

“Jason and I had lunch yesterday and he’s been having a great time.”

He added:

“He is absolutely fine, honestly. Our friendship is much stronger than any TV show!”

“We are great friends and there is no animosity between us, and that’s showbusiness…. jobs come and go.”

Spence claimed that he and Jason have faced times like this before and have always competed for work. He added:

“It’s always been the same; I was in Cats, Jason was in Cats. It’s the same kind of thing.”

“We’re used to this, especially in TV. You’re flavour of the month and then you’re gone. I could be out next year, darling so I’m just making the most of it and I’m having as much fun as I can because I know these things may not last.”

Louie has been a surprise hit on the panel and not nearly as irritating as he has been on other shows before this. As well as his usual flamboyant comments and tendency to fling himself around, the dance expert has actually been offering some very good technical advice and the response to his judging performance, seems much more positive than the critique Emma Bunton got last year.

However, ITV may ultimately regret their decision to let Jason go, as just like the X Factor before it, Dancing On Ice has found itself in a bit of a ratings slump. While they previously enjoyed figures of around 10 million each Sunday night, these days only 7 million tune in each weekend.

In a bid to boost viewing figures, bosses are planning an Olympics themed special in the upcoming weeks, in which Olympic champions and show stars Jayne Torville, Christopher Dean, Katarina Witt and Robin Cousins will all give a special one off performance.

Would you like to see Jason Gardiner coming back next year? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Dancing On Ice 2012: Louie Spence still loves Jason Gardiner…and vice versa! on Unreality TV

Katarina Witt

ITV has announced the new judging panel for the hit entertainment show Dancing On Ice 2012.

TV personality Louie Spence and twice Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt will be joining resident head judge Robin Cousins on the ice panel when the show returns in the New Year.

Head coach Karen Barber will be back to offer her expertise and support to the show’s celebrity skaters.

Acclaimed chorographer Louie Spence will draw on his wealth of experience in dance and choreography to offer his critique on the celebrity’s’ performances. Currently the artistic director at Pineapple studios, Louie has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars including, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Mariah Carey, before becoming a household name with the observational series based at internationally renowned Pineapple Dance Studios.

An original member of the award winning cast of Miss Saigon, he earned the coveted title of Primo Ballerino and danced with stars including Whitney Houston and Tina Turner. In 2008 Louie was one of the trio of judges on the successful NBC prime-time show Celebrity Circus and was voted as one of the top ten reality show judges in America.

Katarina Witt dominated figure skating for over a decade winning a legion of medals and making her one of the most successful figure skaters of all time. She won Olympic golds in both the 1984 Sarajevo (the same year as Torvill and Dean’s legendary Bolero gold medal win) and 1988 Calgary Olympics. She retains the record of most consecutive European titles, sharing it with fellow skater Sonja Henie.

After retiring from competitive skating, the former model has continued to entertain audiences appearing in Holiday on Ice, and also made the leap into acting winning an Emmy for her title role in 1990 film Carmen on Ice. She has since been inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Louie Spence said: “I’m looking forward to being part of such a challenging and spectacular show and can’t wait to give my encouragement and critique on the contestants’ dance and performance on the ice.”

Katarina Witt said: “I can’t wait to join the Dancing On Ice judging panel. As well as offering support and constructive advice to this years’ celebrity skaters I’m also looking forward to working alongside my close friends Torvill and Dean.

Layla Smith, Controller of Entertainment, ITV said: “We are thrilled to welcome Louie and Katarina to the new Dancing On Ice panel. The pair have a wealth of experience which they will be bringing to the new series. Their unique flare and passion for their professions will doubtless make for some interesting debates.

“We’d like to thank Emma Bunton and Jason Gardiner for their valued contribution during previous series and wish them both all the best with their future projects.”

Check out thew rumoured Dancing On Ice 2012 lineup here.

View the original post Katarina Witt, Louie Spence, Robin Cousins judging on Dancing On Ice 2012 – Emma Bunton and Jason Gardiner sacked! on Unreality TV

Dancing On Ice kicks off in less than two months, but two members of it’s judging panel have not yet been offered a contract for their return.

The Sun claims that neither Emma Bunton or Jason Gardiner have been asked to come back to the show and that ITV bosses are considering replacing one of the experts with Pineapple Dance Studios star Louie Spence.

If true, the move will cause a lot of awkwardness between the celebrities, as Louie is close pals with both the former Spice Girl and the dance expert.

Former British champion skater Robin Cousins is said to have already agreed a deal, which will see him appearing on the 2012 series, however though both Emma and Jason have held talks with producers, none has yet been guaranteed their spot on the panel.

“This year’s judging line-up is being taken to the wire.

“Producers want to refresh things and Jason and Emma look the most vulnerable.

“The show has been running for several years and like all ITV shows they are overhauled occasionally to keep viewers interested.”

Emma Bunton seems most likely top be axed, as she has no real ice skating or dance experience and has only appeared on the show for two series’. In 2010 she replaced Karen Barber, who went on to become head coach of the celebrity contestants.

Bosses may want rid of Jason though, as he is an OFCOM investigation magnet all on his own. Last year more than 3,500 people complained to the channel about vicious comments he made to Karen on air. In 2009 the regulatory body were also called in to investigate the show, after the star Gardiner branded Roxanne Pallet a “Cabbage Patch doll” and compared Ellery Hanley to “Mr. Potato Head”.

Dancing On Ice returns in January and will reportedly feature stars such as Coronation Street actor Andy Whyment, Eastenders actress Laila Morse, Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden, Hollyoaks actress Jorgie Porter and Sugababes singer Heidi Range.

Check out the full lineup so far here.

This year’s show will also have a different host, after it was revealed that Holly Willoughby will not be ch-presenting with Phillip Schofield as usual. instead the Silver Fox will be joined by disgraced Daybreak star Christine Bleakley.

It is claimed that Holly will go on to work on BBC’s The Voice.

Are you looking forward to Dancing On Ice’s return? Will you watch without Jason or Emma or even Holly? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Dancing On Ice 2012: Jason Gardiner or Emma Bunton to be replaced by Louie Spence? on Unreality TV

Jason Gardiner has admitted that he was so elated to be finished on reality TV show ‘Alone in the Wild’, that he headed straight to have “a bath then sex”.

The nasty Dancing On Ice judge and a group of fellow celebrities took part in the Discovery Channel series, in which they were abandoned in the wild and resposible for foraging for their own food, shelter and water with no outside help from production staff.

So when the work was done and the series shot, Gardiner made the most of his stay in a luxurious hotel. He revealed:

“I had a bath. A long hot bath with oils, it was absolutely divine. And then I had sex!”

The style expert also confirmed our suspicions that he may well be the most shallow person on TV, when he confessed that he missed his wardrobe and designer clothes more than any real life person when he was living on the island.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Alone in the Wild’ at London’s One Marylebone, he told BANG Showbiz:

“I really missed – I know this is going to sound shallow – but I really missed my wardrobe, I missed getting things on and working looks, which I loved to do and being on the island, it wasn’t about that because everything was always saturated because there was so much humidity, nothing was dry.

“I also missed my godchildren, I’m very hands on with them so not getting them every weekend was difficult, it was very tough.”

Also starring on the reality TV show are Freddie Flintoff, Donal MacIntyre, Joe Pasquale, Chris Ryan, Aron Ralston, Amy Williams and Tanya Streeter,

View the original post Jason Gardiner celebrated finishing ‘Alone in the Wild’ with a bath, then sex! on Unreality TV

Stephen Mulhern will make his judging panel debut on Born To Shine this Sunday night.

The 34 year old star is used to interviewing the judges on his Britain’s Got Talent spinoff show, Britain’s Got More Talent, however this weekend he will be stepping into their shoes as he replaces Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner, as the Australian star is attending a friend’s wedding.

Speaking about his new role on the ITV1 show, which sees celebrities being mentored by talented teenagers in a completely new skill, Mulhern told The Sun:

“I’ve been watching the master Simon Cowell at work on ITV for five years so I’m hoping some of his technique has rubbed off on me.”

View the original post Stephen Mulhern to replace Jason Gardiner on Sunday’s Born To Shine on Unreality TV

It was only a few months ago that Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner showed off his new lustrous head of hair on live TV but The Daily Mail have today reported that it might be starting to fall out again!

The acid tongued dance expert revealed on ITV’s This Morning in March that he had undergone surgery and spent £20,000 on follicle transplants and was elated with the results, which saw him boasting of a full head of hair once more.

He unveiled the new look on the Dancing On Ice final (pictured above) and later explained that he had needed a boost to his self-esteem, as he truly hated going bald.

However pictures have emerged today which seem to suggest that Jason’s hairline may once again be receding.

He was spotted enjoying lunch with a pal in London’s Old Compton Street and as he noticed photographers trying to get a sneaky picture, he covered his head with his friend’s scarf.

Speaking earlier this year, Jason admitted that his hairline is extremely important to him, telling The News Of The World:

“It was important for me to get this done. I feel so great about how it looks.”

“I felt resentful that I’d had to give in to being bald.”

For his sake, we hope he isn’t going down that road again.

In other news, Jason recently stepped down from his job as fashion expert on This Morning, he also confessed last week that he thought he was dying, after an insect bite sustained on holiday, ended up with hospitalisation and extreme pain.

View the original post Uh-oh – bald spot alert! Is Jason Gardiner’s hair transplant going wrong? on Unreality TV

Jason Gardiner was left in agony last month, after an insect bit his leg and laid eggs under his skin.

The Dancing On Ice judge was enjoying a luxury holiday in the Central American country of Belize when he was bitten and after being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, he was later flown back to the UK to convalesce.

Talking about the scary incident, he said: “It was an absolutely horrible experience. My skin was literally bubbling and exploding. To go to a clinic for tropical diseases and then be rushed into an emergency hospital was very scary, but thank God I’m on the mend now.”

The Australian star presented his last fashion segment for ITV’s ‘This Morning’ yesterday and admitted that he was sure he was at “death’s door” following the bite by a sand fly.

A friend told The Sun: “Jason was in agony. His leg just blew up like an airship and he couldn’t walk.

“He genuinely thought he was at death’s door. He knew he’d been bitten but couldn’t believe how much it swelled up. But on closer inspection it was revealed that this fly had laid eggs in his leg too.

“Talk about disgusting.

“Fortunately doctors were on hand to get him into hospital as quickly as they could and they managed to get the swelling down.”

View the original post Dancing On Ice: Jason Gardiner thought he was dying after insect bite! on Unreality TV

Jason Gardiner has claimed that he is glad Sam Attwater won Dancing On Ice last night.

The nasty judge has always been a very vocal supporter of fellow finalist Laura hamilton, but writing in a blog post on Facebook conceded that Attwater displayed all the skills he wanted from a champion on yesterday’s series finale.

Gardiner wrote:

“When this couple first hit the ice it was like an explosion! Sam had all the attributes that I look for in a potential champion. He was strong, technically superb, confident, a great partner and boy could he skate.

“He delivered one of the strongest routines of the series with his Riverdance and astounded the panel with his brilliant execution.”

He added: “Then this partnership hit a trouble patch where they were out of sync and not quite gelling together. Sam started to lose his spark while others excelled. But like a trooper he kept fighting and worked hard to overcome his problems.

“In the semi-final he proved that he was back and on top of his game as a real contender. After tonight, Sam has shown that the road to success isn’t always an easy one but by applying yourself and with single-minded determination, you can overcome anything if you put your mind to it. He deserves to be the king of this series because he has truly worked so hard for it.”

View the original post Dancing On Ice 2011: Jason Gardiner ‘Sam Attwater deserved to win!’ on Unreality TV

Jason Gardiner last night revealed his brand new head of hair and speaking about his new look today, he admitted that he could never get used to being bald.

The Dancing On Ice judge was praising Laura Hamilton last night, when he finally took of his cap and revealed his £20,000 hair transplants.

Speaking on This Morning with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, the acid tongued judge admitted that he got quite emotional when the time came to unveil his new locks on yesterday’s final and explaining why, he said:

I guess that comes from the fact that I can remember back to that time and how much of a struggle it was. It was a very very difficult time.

I tried to embrace it and live with being bald but the ironic thing was that coming back here and doing all the fashion stuff, doing makeovers, that really highlighted for me that I was never going to be able to change this look. I was forever bald and I started getting suffocated by that. I know that sounds crazy and sometimes I do find it hard to believe that I allowed it to affect me so much.

I have lived under a hat , every single day for eight months and it’s become a security and now, I’m thrilled with everything but it’s nerve wracking.

Jason was accompanied by his doctor on the ITV show today and he explained that he cut out 3501 hair follicles from the back of Gardiner’s head and transplanted them one by one at the front.

The result is very natural and the Australian dance expert loves it so much, that he’s planning another operation so he can achieve a thicker look. He revealed on twitter:

“I will have a second one in order to get back all the hair I lost. The medical technology these days is just remarkable!

“It is quite miraculous what they can do these days. Dr Ziering is a genius!”

View the original post Dancing On Ice: After hair transplants Jason Gardiner admits he was ‘suffocated’ by baldness on Unreality TV

Jason Gardiner flamboyantly revealed his brand new head of hair on last night’s Dancing On Ice final and later took to Twitter to praise the doctor responsible for his follicle transplants.

The acid tongued judge took his hat off as he critiqued Laura Hamilton’s routine to ‘I’m So Excited’ and afterwards presenter Phillip Schofield joked:

“So that’s what £20,000 looks like!”

After the result was announced and Sam Attwater won the ITV show, Jason took to twitter to reveal he plans to undergo the procedure again after hailing his doctor a “genius”.

He posted: “I will have a second one in order to get back all the hair I lost. The medical technology these days is just remarkable!

“It is quite miraculous what they can do these days. Dr Ziering is a genius!”

Speaking to The News Of The World yesterday, Gardiner admitted that he struggled greatly with going bald and felt that transplants were the only way to regain his self esteem. He said:

“It was important for me to get this done. I feel so great about how it looks.”

“I felt resentful that I’d had to give in to being bald.”

“It affected me psychologically. I went through self-doubt, depression and self-loathing. I was ashamed of myself. I couldn’t be intimate with people. It was a nightmare. It was suffocating me actually, the realisation that I could never change it.”

View the original post Dancing On Ice Results: Jason Gardiner praises hair transplant doctor on Unreality TV