Joe-Warren Plant and Vanessa Bauer LEAVE Dancing On Ice after testing positive for coronavirus

Joe-Warren Plant and Vanessa Bauer are out of Dancing On Ice after they both tested positive for coronavirus.

The Emmerdale actor, 18, said he was ‘disappointed’ to not be able to continue with the show and felt he had ‘so much more to give’, while Vanessa, 24, said she was ‘beyond devastated’. 

Joe’s exit is the latest in a string of blows in this year’s ITV series, with Billie Faiers, Denise Van Outen and Rufus Hound all having to withdraw from the competition. 

So many celebrities have been forced to drop out of Dancing On Ice, that for the first time in its history the show has run out of reserves. 

It’s all over: Joe-Warren Plant and Vanessa Bauer are out of Dancing On Ice after they both tested positive for coronavirus

Announcing his departure, Joe said in a statement: ‘Having tested positive for Covid this now means the end of the competition for Vanessa and I. 

‘I have loved every minute of being a part of Dancing On Ice and I am disappointed as I feel I had so much more to give and was working hard to perfect each performance. 

‘Thank you so much to Vanessa for being a fantastic teacher and although its been cut short, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

Upset: The Emmerdale actor, 18, said he was ‘disappointed’ to not be able to continue with the show, while Vanessa, 24, said she was ‘beyond devastated’ (pictured on last week’s show)

End of the road: Joe and Vanessa pictured leaving training in Blackpool earlier this month 

‘Thank you to all the crew who have been brilliant and especially thanks to the other cast members, they have been hugely supportive and I wish them all the very best.’

Vanessa said: ‘Unfortunately, we have received positive test results for Covid which means we cannot continue to compete this year. Joe-Warren has been growing every week into such a talented skater and I’m so sad we won’t be able to show more of the great routines we had planned. 

‘I am beyond proud and devastated, as we had so much more to show, he was the hardest working partner I’ve ever had.’

An ITV spokesperson added: ‘We can confirm that following positive Covid tests, Joe-Warren Plant and Vanessa Bauer have had to withdraw from this year’s competition. 

‘They’ve been wonderful on the show this year and we thank them for all their dedication and beautiful performances.’ 

Oh dear: After just four episodes Dancing On Ice ‘s 2021 series has been thrown into chaos after four celebrities have had to leave the show (pictured Denise Van Outen and Matt Evers)

After just four episodes Dancing On Ice‘s 2021 series has seen more drama than many reality shows face in their entirety, including freak injuries, coronavirus and backstage fury. 

Rufus Hound, 41, was also axed from the competition after her tested positive for coronavirus. 

Meanwhile Denise Van Outen, 46, and Billie Faiers, 31, both dropped out of the show after hurting themselves on the ice.

Dropped out: Reality star Billie Faiers withdrew from the show after suffering a concussion following a fall during training

The West End star dislocated her shoulder, while Billie suffered a concussion after falling on her head in training. 

Denise revealed she spent 15 hours with a dislocated shoulder after injuring herself because she ‘didn’t really want to bother the NHS’. 

Speaking during an appearance on ITV’s Loose Women, she said: ‘After the rehearsal I spent 15 hours with my shoulder being dislocated, because we didn’t really want to bother the NHS knowing that they’re so overstretched.

‘So it wasn’t until the pain was so unbearable that they advised I went in to see them. They put my shoulder back in but it popped out again, and then I skated on it in the most excruciating pain I cannot tell you.’  

And the programme came under fire from viewers who were concerned by how many celebrities and professional skaters were requiring hospital treatment, putting further strain on the NHS. 

Both figure skaters Yebin Mok and Andy Buchanan required hospital treatment after suffering injury while rehearsing with respective partners Graham Bell and Rebekah Vardy. 

Myleene Klass also sustained a broken toe and torn knee cartilage.