Dancing On Ice could have a Phillip Schofield shaped hole in the line-up this weekend as the host has tested positive for Covid-19.
The 59-year-old presenter has said he is struggling with a a “slightly sore throat ” and a lateral flow test has shown he has tested positive for the virus.
Phil has already been replaced by Alison Hammond for his duties on This Morning – with the 46-year-old host stepping in to present alongside Rochelle Humes, 32, on the daytime show instead.
And now Phil’s place on Dancing On Ice hangs in the balance as he will require two negative tests ahead of Sunday’s show to be able to leave isolation.
Current Covid rules in England allow those testing positive for Covid to leave isolation after five days – provided lateral flow tests give negative results on days five and six.
Phil could therefore still make this weekend’s shows – but there is no guarantee.
And while ITV have refused to reveal if there will be a presenter to replace Phil, it is possible that both original hosts will be absent as Holly Willoughby is also working away from ITV for two weeks as she completes filming on a survivalist series in the South of France.
Dancing on Ice has had a shaky start to the 2022 series – with Rachel Stevens narrowly missing her first episode of the show after she injured herself in training.
And bosses will no doubt be desperate to avoid the same level of chaos that disrupted the show last year.
Series 13 saw five couples pull out of the show for a variety of reasons.
Denise van Outen and her professional skate partner Matt Evers pulled out ahead of week three as the TV host injured her shoulder – and the duo were replaced by gymnast Amy Tinkler and pro skater Joe Johnson.
Rufus Hound and his skate partner Robin Johnstone were then forced to quit early ahead of week four after the comedian tested positive for Covid-19 – with the pair replaced by Matt Richardson and pro skater Vicky Ogden.
While Billie Faiers and her skate partner Mark Hanretty left on week four after the ex-Towie star sustained a head injury during training – and the duo were not replaced.
Then actor Joe-Warren Plant and his skate partner Vanessa Bauer after both the Emmerdale star and the pro dancer tested positive for Covid-19 – and no replacement was provided.
And Jason Donovan and his pro skate partner Alexandra Schauman quit ahead of the week six episode after the Any Dream Will Do hitmaker injured his back.
While further chaos disrupted the series as the week six episode was postponed by a week to allow contestants time to recover from injury.
So far in the 2022 series, pop singer Rachel Stevens has suffered a wrist fracture, and BMX champ Kye Whyte has sprained his knee.
Dancing On Ice is due to continue on Sunday night on ITV1 at 6:30pm.
