Phillip Schofield addressed Holly Willoughby’s absence from Sunday’s Dancing On Ice semi-final hours after she was forced to bow out of the show after testing positive for Covid-19.
Making a solo appearance to host the programme, Phillip said that he knew ‘what it’s like to watch this show from home’, adding it was ‘weird’, referring to his own absence last month after he too was struck down with the virus.
Sending a message to is poorly co-star, Phillip also sent a get well soon message to Holly.
Missing: Phillip Schofield addressed Holly Willoughby’s absence from Sunday’s Dancing On Ice semi-final hours after she was forced to bow out of the show after testing positive for Covid-19
Gesturing to an empty space beside him, he explained about Holly’s positive test, adding: ‘I know what it’s like to watch this show from home, it’s weird! Holly, get well soon, lots of love.’
Meanwhile, the semi-finals kicked off with a solo skate from the five remaining celebrities as they battled it out to win extra points on the leaderboard.
The group donned black and red outfits and danced a haunting routine while individually showing off their skills without their partners in a bid to win up to five points.
Following the performance, the judges awarded Kimberly Wyatt the maximum points, while Kye Whyte was offered the lowest amount of just one point.
No show: Holly was forced to bow out of Sunday night’s Dancing On Ice semi-final after testing positive for Covid-19
Next up, the contestants had to perform their couple routines to songs that meant something to him, with Brendan Cole up first to skate.
The dancer chose She by Elvis Costello, dedicated to his ‘amazing’ wife Zoe, adding he wanted to the routine to be ‘perfect’ for his ‘best friend’, before proceeding to break down in tears in the motional VT.
And Brendan’s skate was very nearly perfect as he was awarded an impressive 39 out of 40 by judges Christopher Dean, Jayne Torvill, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo.
Solo host: Making a solo appearance to host the programme, Phillip said that he knew ‘what it’s like to watch this show from home’, adding it was ‘weird’, referring to his own absence last month after he too was struck down with the virus
Get well soon: Gesturing to an empty space beside him, he explained about Holly’s positive test, adding: ‘I know what it’s like to watch this show from home, it’s weird! Holly, get well soon, lots of love’
Chris commented that the quality of Brendan’s skating was like ‘liquid’, while an excited Ashley remarked: ‘Nobody could skate that piece like you did, incredible!’
Next up was Olympian Kye Whyte, who after having been in a few skate-offs previously, was hoping to impress the judges and the audience at home.
And the sportsman’s efforts saw him perform a heartfelt routine Stand By Me by Ben E. King dedicated to his beloved mother Tracey.
After showing a different side to him on the ice, Kye left Oti in tears as she told him: ‘With everything you’re going through, managed to come out every week with a smile on your face, you should be so proud’, adding it was a ‘beautiful performance.’ He scored a total of 36 points.
What a start! Meanwhile, the semi-finals kicked off with a solo skate from the five remaining celebrities as they battled it out to win extra points on the leaderboard
Nice job: The group donned black and red outfits and danced a haunting routine while individually showing off their skills without their partners in a bid to win up to five points
Success: Following the performance, the judges awarded Kimberly Wyatt the maximum points, while Kye Whyte was offered the lowest amount of just one point
Third to skate was Pussycat Doll Kimberley, who dedicated her song, Rihanna’s We Found Love, to her husband Max as it was the song playing when they first met.
With little time available to find a replacement host, it was confirmed earlier in the day that Phillip will present this week’s show by himself as he took to Instagram to reveal he was ‘gutted’.
A Dancing On Ice spokesperson said: ‘Unfortunately, Holly Willoughby is unable to host tonight’s show after testing positive for Covid-19. We look forward to Holly returning for the Dancing on Ice Live Final.’
Holly will be self-isolating at home for the next few days and will likely miss most, if not all, of her This Morning duties next week.
Up first: Next up, the contestants had to perform their couple routines to songs that meant something to him, with Brendan Cole up first to skate
Emotional: The dancer chose She by Elvis Costello, dedicated to his ‘amazing’ wife Zoe, adding he wanted to the routine to be ‘perfect’ for his ‘best friend’, before proceeding to break down in tears in the motional VT
Good job: Chris commented that the quality of Brendan’s skating was like ‘liquid’, while an excited Ashley remarked: ‘Nobody could skate that piece like you did, incredible!’
So close: Brendan was just one point off a perfect score in the semi-final
Co-presenter Phillip, 59, shared a snap of him and Holly together on his stories on Sunday and wrote: ‘Gutted that my mate won’t be with me on Dancing on Ice tonight. Get well soon darlin.’
Those with Covid must stay at home until they are no longer infectious to others which can be for up to 10 days from when symptoms start.
However, many people will no longer be infectious after five days.
People can do a lateral flow test five days after their symptoms have started (or the day they had the test if they do not have symptoms) and another the next day.
If both tests are negative, the person can return to their normal routine.
Pal: Co-presenter Phillip, 59, shared a snap of the two together on his stories and wrote: ‘Gutted that my mate won’t be with me on Dancing on Ice tonight. Get well soon darlin’
Solo: With little time available to find a replacement host, Phillip presented this week’s show by himself
Self-isolation: Holly will be self-isolating at home for the next few days and will likely miss most, if not all, of her This Morning duties next week
Phillip was forced to take time off from Dancing On Ice hosting duties last month when he tested positive for Covid.
The presenter was replaced by Stephen Mulhern, which saw him present alongside Holly for the first time since their days hosting children’s TV together, with the pair last presenting Ministry of Mayhem back in 2006.
Opening the show, Holly said: ‘Welcome to the greatest show on Ice. You may have heard that Phil is isolating so for the first time ever he won’t be here this week. The lovely Stephen Mulhern has stepped in to save the day.’
Together again: Phillip was forced to take time off from Dancing On Ice hosting duties last month when he tested positive for Covid and was replaced by Stephen Mulhern
Stephen, who was greeted with rapturous applause, said: ‘Yes, I am here guy. Please don’t stop. Can you believe it’s actually 16 years since we worked together on kids TV?’
Holly said: ‘I know and look at us now, we’re grownups doing proper grown up telly,’ to which Stephen joked: ‘Back by no demand.’
Remaining celebrities Brendan Cole, Connor Ball, Kimberly Wyatt, Kye Whyte and Regan Gascoigne will perform in Sunday night’s semi-final.
Paralympian Stef Reid narrowly missed out on a spot in the show after she and skating partner Andy Buchanan were sent home last week.
Sent home: Paralympian Stef Reid narrowly missed out on a spot in the semi-final after she and skating partner Andy Buchanan were sent home last week
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