Dancing On Ice pro Yebin Mok has been forced to pull out of the first live show, after suffering a laceration to her leg during training.
The skater, who was set to perform with Olympic skier Graham Bell, will be out for ‘quite a few weeks’ while she recovers following the ‘freak accident.’
The injury means Graham will make his skating debut next Sunday instead of this weekend with a new professional partner, and comedian Rufus Hound’s first performance will be brought forward to take his place.
Ouch! Dancing On Ice pro Yebin Mok has been forced to pull out of the first live show, after suffering a laceration to her leg during training
Speaking after the injury, Graham told MailOnline: ‘I fell when we were training on Monday and Yebin my pro-dance partner fell onto the back of my skate.
‘She was cut quite badly on the shin and needed an operation to clean and stitch up the wound. She spent Monday night in Watford hospital and was released yesterday, luckily there was no nerve or tendon damage.
‘She has been told two to four weeks before she can skate again, so Dancing on Ice have organised for a replacement, Karina Mantra, to come in for the first few performances.
‘It’s going to be really tough learning our routines again with someone new, but Yebin will be on hand to coach us both. It is now a massive incentive for me to stay in the show so that I can get Yebin back on the ice!’
Worrying: The skater, who was set to perform with Olympic skier Graham Bell, will be out for ‘quite a few weeks’ while she recovers following the ‘freak accident’
Worrying: Following the accident, Yebin was left in agony as she was treated by medical staff, and ITV confirmed she is now resting and healing at home
Dancing On Ice hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield made the announcement during Wednesday’s This Morning.
Holly said: ‘This week Graham Bell and his partner Yebin had a freak accident which resulted in her having a laceration on her leg.’
The presenting duo added that they had a Zoom meeting with Yebin following the accident and got a glimpse of the nasty injury, which they couldn’t show on air.
Scary: Dancing On Ice hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield made the announcement during Wednesday’s This Morning
Holly confessed she couldn’t even look at the injury, and squirmed as Phillip described the details.
He said: ‘We had a Zoom meeting yesterday with the team and they showed us a picture that we can not show you on TV.
‘Holly couldn’t even look at it, she had to look away – and it was a very nasty stab wound from an ice blade. You could see the tendons, it’s a very dangerous show.’
Ouch! Holly confessed she couldn’t even look at the injury, and squirmed as Phillip described the details
Upsetting: Phillip added that Yebin (pictured following the injury) will be out of the show for ‘quite a few weeks’ while she recovers
It was then announced that due to the accident Graham would not take part in the first live show, which was set to see the first six couples make their skating debut.
Instead Rufus and his professional partner Robin Johnstone will perform during the live launch show on Sunday, and Graham will skate the following week with Karina Manta.
Phillip added that Yebin will be out of the show for ‘quite a few weeks’ while she recovers.
ITV later confirmed that Yebin received ‘immediate medical attention’ and is now recovering at home.
The news comes just days before the new series of Dancing On Ice was set to begin, with Jason Donavon, Joe Warren-Plant, Denise Van Outen, Rebekah Vardy and Lady Leshurr joining Rufus making their skating debut.
Changes: The injury means Graham will make his skating debut next Sunday, and comedian Rufus Hound’s first performance will be brought forward to take his place
It comes just hours after it was reported that bosses were tightening restrictions after learning five crew members had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to reports, show bosses are set to introduce stricter restrictions on set as a result of the outbreak so that the show can open as planned on Sunday night.
It was also claimed that crew members behind the scenes are concerned about others contracting COVID-19, but they are taking every precaution to ensure this doesn’t happen.
A source speaking to The Sun claimed: ‘More than five members of production are isolating because of Covid right now — it’s become a nightmare.’
Outbreak: It comes just hours after it was reported that bosses were tightening restrictions after learning five crew members had tested positive for COVID-19 (pictured Rebekah Vardy)
The insider went on to say that stars have been urged to remain cautious after the virus hit several members of production, as they added: ‘They’re now enforcing even stricter regulations.
‘But while there are concerns about further people having to isolate, bosses are confident they have put all the precautions in place to safely be able to get the show on air.’
A spokesperson for the show told MailOnline: ‘The welfare of everyone who works on Dancing On Ice is our first priority.
‘We have had a robust set of measures in place ever since work on the series commenced in order to operate safely within Covid-19 guidelines and to ensure the wellbeing of everyone connected with the production.’
Worries: It was also claimed bosses are concerned about others contracting COVID-19, but they are taking every precaution to ensure this doesn’t happen (pictured Myleene Klass)
The new series of Dancing On Ice will see the judges protected by perspex screens and no studio audience amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Images of the ITV show’s studios revealed large screens have been placed in front of the judges chairs to shield Ashley Banjo, John Barrowman, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
For the first time in its history the studio at Bovingdon Airfield in Hertfordshire will have no audience, a move mirroring that of Strictly Come Dancing.
The skating celebrities will also watch each other perform from socially-distanced tables to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.
Dancing On Ice 2021 begins on Sunday at 6pm on ITV.
On soon: Dancing On Ice 2021 begins on Sunday at 6pm on ITV