JUDGEMENT TIME
Why has Jason Gardiner quit Dancing on Ice and why is he feuding with Gemma Collins?
JASON Gardiner shocked fans by announcing he has quit Dancing On Ice - 13 years after making his first appearance as a judge on the ITV show.
In a revealing Instagram post, he explained his reasons for leaving, but what really led him to quit and what else is there to know about the Aussie choreographer?
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Why has Jason quit Dancing On Ice?
On August 21, Jason took to his official Instagram page to announce he has quit Dancing On Ice.
The professional 47-year-old stressed how it felt like the right time to exit the show, having been part of the dancing competition since 2006.
In a video posted on his social media account, Jason shared: "After all these years I feel it's time for me to say goodbye to my judging role and return to things I have been putting on hold and have been on the back burner for a while.
"To all of my DOI fans I really thank you for your support and encouragement over the years, I know we've gone through some controversies and I'm glad you got my unique judging style and honestly".
His reason for leaving Dancing On Ice comes just weeks after The Sun reported how bosses "were secretly plotting to replace him".
Following his infamous row with Gemma Collins in 2018, producers became concerned over the future of DOI, adding that ITV chiefs didn't want the show to be drawn into negative press and possible lawsuits over what some may have perceived as bullying remarks.
An ITV source revealed: “Bosses have become concerned in light of the axing of The Jeremy Kyle Show, that contestants could have a cause for complaint.
“After the rows with Gemma last year, producers started to make quiet inquiries about potential replacements.
“It sounds as if Jason isn’t aware this process is taking place, which is a bit awkward”.
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What is Jason Gardiner's feud with Gemma Collins about?
It all started on January 18, 2019, when Gemma announced that she knew who had been selling stories about her "diva" behaviour backstage on Dancing On Ice.
Then the next day, Jason accused Gemma in The Sun of failing to put enough effort into rehearsals.
In a damning exclusive interview, Jason, 47, says: “I can always see who’s lazy. Gemma is lazy. She doesn’t look like her heart is in it at all.
“I do despair — at the state of our society today and also the entertainment industry.
He went: “I’ve never seen the show Gemma is from. I don’t watch a lot of these types of shows, I’m too busy and life is too short. So I wasn’t aware of this phenomenon that is Gemma Collins.
“But I had heard the hype from her own mouth, how amazing she is and how she’s better than Beyonce."
It has not been confirmed by Jason if he was the one who had been selling stories about Gemma the previous week, leading up to his interview with The Sun.
Although, Gemma's skating partner Matt Evers told Heart Radio it WAS Jason.
On Sunday, January 20, 2019, after Gemma had performed on Dancing On Ice, Jason gave her a score of just 3.0 and said her performance with pro partner Matt Evers, below, lacked elegance.
Gemma, 37, hit back: “Maybe if you didn’t sell stories on me, I wouldn’t be so upset this week, so take that.”
As the atmosphere turned very frosty, he said: "I know you were channeling Marilyn Monroe ... There wasn't any elegance like you were saying in the VT. She has to be elegant. She is a woman in control of her femininity. You were all over the place hun.
"And as Ashley said, there's not enough skating. This is your second skate now. You need to up the ante. We're not going to see big lifts from you. We're not going to get any impressive moves."
Jason recently reignited their feud by saying Gemma looked like a "refrigerator on ice".
Appearing on This Morning, Phillip Schofield asked Jason about The GC coming back for the final.
"Who? I thought that was a refrigerator," he sniped.
Gemma took to Instagram to accuse the judge of bullying, saying: "I’m really tired of being BULLIED by this man... I wish you would stop... it’s very very upsetting and hurtful let it go Jason stop bullying me ENOUGH is ENOUGH."
The next day Jason apologised to Gemma, tweeting: ""I was not calling Gemma a refrigerator it was meant as a light-hearted joke when Phillip said the 'GC' which sounds like a white goods brand.
"What has happened to having a SoH?"
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Is Jason Gardiner suing Gemma Collins?
On January 24, The Sun Online's Dan Wootton exclusively revealed that Jason is considering taking legal action against Gemma for defamation.
An insider said: “Jason has made Gemma aware that he intends to sue her. He’s livid.
“He insists that all he did was give an interview to The Sun, where he was asked about lots of things, including Gemma.
“She’s very stressed about the idea of being sued and she wants the situation to die down so she can focus on her skating.
“This has become the biggest reality show war ever.”
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Who is Jason Gardiner?
Jason Gardiner, 47, was born June 11, 1971 and is an Australian choreographer, singer, and theatre producer.
He is best known for being an outspoken judge on the ITV shows Born to Shine, Stepping Out, and formerly Dancing On Ice.
He was also a judge on the first series of the BBC talent show Strictly Dance Fever.
Jason shot to fame on the Dancing On Ice panel from 2006 to 2011, before returning in 2013 - and quitting in 2019.
In 2006, Jason also took part in Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice, an Australian version of the hit show.
Brendan Cole calls Jason Gardiner 'vicious' amid Dancing On Ice judge's feud with Gemma Collins
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