Dancing On Ice commentator Matt Chapman has quit the ITV1 skating show after receiving backlash from viewers in the first episode.
Fans blasted the horse racing correspondent’s ‘OTT’ voiceover last weekend and begged for bosses to sack him, with one even claiming he sounded like a ‘drunk uncle’.
And Matt – who had taken over from the late legendary broadcaster Tony Gubba – has now decided to ‘hang up the skates’ and walk out of the rebooted show.
Farewell: Dancing On Ice commentator Matt Chapman has quit the ITV show after receiving backlash from viewers for his ‘cheesy voiceover’
Matt had spent months learning the moves and the 12 contestants – comprised of Brooke Vincent, Kem Cetinay and Donna Air – in time for the first show last weekend.
However, his abrupt voice overs and cheesy one liners didn’t impress viewers and many of them took to social media to beg ITV to sack him and find a replacement.
‘I’ve decided to hang up my skates, leave the rink and return to the turf and I wish the show the best of luck for the rest of the run,’ he told The Sun.
Insiders claimed he decided to quit the show due to a schedule clash, with a source telling the paper: ‘Matt decided he couldn’t make his diary quite work as he thought.
‘He’s a big character and a talented sports commentator but he had some mixed reviews in the first show, and he told ITV that perhaps it wasn’t for him after all.
‘It was always going to be a big gig following Tony who did eight series before he died in 2013. After Sunday’s show Matt told producers they would have to look elsewhere for a commentator for the rest of the series.’
ITV are now on a desperate hunt to find someone to fill in for him by this weekend.
It’s over: The horse racing correspondent has decided to walk out of the rebooted skating show – leaving bosses desperately hunting for someone to fill the role by the weekend. Pictured, show hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby
A Dancing On Ice spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We can confirm that Matt Chapman has left the show, and wish him all the very best and look forward to him reporting at ITV Racing at Warwick this weekend.’
It comes after Matt fell at the first hurdle after viewers bashed the new voice-over man as ‘OTT [over the top]’ during the first live show on Sunday.
Matt, who previously worked on The Racing Post and At The Races, donned the sparkly headset for the first time, but didn’t quite reach fans’ expectations on Twitter.
The Guildford native struck a nerve with many viewers, who took to the micro-blogging site to vent their annoyance at the manner in which Matt commentated on the hit skating show.
One tweeted: ‘Not sure about the new voiceover guy, sounds a bit like a drunk uncle at a wedding speech’, while another said: ‘commentator was a bit OTT’.
Frosty reception: The new commentator was not exactly met with a warm reception
First try: The Guildford native struck a nerve with many viewers, who took to the micro-blogging site to vent their annoyance at the manner in which Matt commentated on the hit skating show
A third wrote: ‘The new commentator is terrible’, while another viewer commentated: ‘The only slight criticism I have in regards to @DOI2018 is the commentator…can he wind his neck in and tone it down a bit.
‘No one could ever be as good as Gubba but at least try to be sort of like him’.
One fan did come out in favour of the new commentator, saying: ‘Matthew Chapman on the other hand was brilliant and the only reason I watched the show’.
Matt stepped into the shoes of former BBC sports commentator Tony Gubba, who had been in charge of leading the dancing show since its launch in 2006.
He had previously commentated on professional ice-skating for the broadcaster. He passed away 2013 following a short illness.
Much loved: Matt stepped into the shoes of former BBC sports commentator Tony Gubba, who had been in charge of leading the dancing show since its launch in 2006
The hit ice-performance show returned after four years away, and fans were delighted to see hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield firmly back where they belonged.
On the first live show, 6 of the 12 new celebrities took to the ice for a live performance, kicking off a 10-week series.
X-Factor alum Jake Quickenden immediately shot to the top of the leader board after an impressive first performance with partner Vanessa Bauer, while baker Candice Brown fell flat after an ‘anxious’ first try, and found herself in the dreaded skate-off, which will take place next weekend.
Winner: X-Factor alum Jake Quickenden immediately shot to the top of the leader board after an impressive first performance with partner Vanessa Bauer
Last: Baker Candice Brown fell flat after an ‘anxious’ first try, and found herself in the dreaded skate-off, which will take place next weekend