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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sara-Aisha Kent

Ben Foden's wife savagely blasts Dancing on Ice after he's first star to be axed

Ben Foden's wife, Jackie Smith Foden, is not happy that her spouse's skating skills did not impress Dancing on Ice viewers.

The former English rugby union player waved goodbye to his figure skating dreams when he was the first celeb to be voted off the 2022 edition of the ITV show on Sunday night.

Following Ben, 36, being booted off the much-loved TV series - which is hosted by Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield - Jackie, 35, was pictured looking annoyed as they left the studio.

And it seems that she is not feeling any better the day after Ben's departure from the show, as she penned a lengthy rant onto her Instagram Stories today.

In the message, American native Jackie not only hit out that the competition was "unfair" but she also took a swipe at the UK by telling that she cannot wait to get back across the pond.

Appearing bitter at Ben not being a fan favourite, she penned: "What's the point of saying it's a skate competition when it's really just a popularity competition?

"Why divide the skaters into two weeks, groups of your choosing, and why not judge all their scores together after the two weeks?

"What's the point of getting a bunch of people together and then not judging them together afterwards?"

Continuing to hit out at the format, she went on: "And what's the point of having a judging panel when it's all down to a public vote.

"That's not a skate competition, it's a popularity competition. What's the point of anyone doing this really practicing and trying to learn if you're just going to be judged on your popularity?

"It's a bit unfair, and we're a bit sad, the worst skater wasn't the first to go, I don't really see the point."

After Ben was voted off Dancing on Ice, Jackie hit out (Instagram)
Last week she joked that she hoped he would get voted off first (Instagram)

Not stopping there, she continued: "Yes, it's how the show makes money but maybe leave the public vote for the save me skate offs or something?

"Otherwise it's just kind of pointless to even try."

Jackie then went on to share that she is backing Regan Gascoigne and Ria Hebden as the competition continues.

She wrote: "As sad as I am that Ben's experience was so short-lived I'm glad Ria got to stay in.

"We sat next to her family at the show and her two little adorable children were the most well behaved little people ever, sitting in their seats cheering their mum on."

Taking aim at England, she then told how she is desperate to leave, as she wrote: "And I'm glad we get to go home to NYC sooner!! Had my fair share of England for a while, time to get back to the real world and get our lives back."

Jackie's comments come just days after she joked that she was hoping Ben was voted off first so that he wouldn't cheat on her with Rachel Stevens.

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Celebrity X Factor star Ben was voted out by all of the judges, including Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean last night.

After 11 skating stars took to the rink over the past two weekends, two stars were left fighting for their place on the show.

It was TV presenter Ria Hebden and her professional skating partner Łukasz Różycki, who found themselves in the bottom last week.

This time around, week two saw Ben and his pro partner Robin Johnstone in the bottom and facing Ria in the dreaded skate-off with Ben losing out.

After it was announced that Ben was leaving the competition, he praised his pro partner after three months of training for the ITV show.

He said: "I really have enjoyed it, this woman is incredible and it's the people who make this experience."

*Dancing on Ice continues Sunday at 6:30pm on ITV and ITV Hub.

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