2020 Dancing On Ice winner Joe Swash vows to return to show after five skaters drop out and throw series into chaos

DANCING On Ice 2020 winner Joe Swash has vowed to return to the show after FIVE skaters dropped out throwing the series into chaos.

The Sun exclusively revealed yesterday that past winners may be brought back, in a desperate bid to save the show.

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Joe Swash vowed to return to the skating show

The 39-year-old actor appeared thrilled to hear the news and took to social media showing his eagerness to sign up.

Alongside a snap of the exclusive story, an enthusiastic Joe wrote: “I’m in @dancingonice .”

He wowed the judges last year and viewers were happy to see dark horse Joe come out on top after he started off in week one at the bottom of the leaderboard.

He became the series 12th winner, beating Diversity star Perri Kiely in the live final.

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Joe wowed judges last year with his skating performances

This year the ITV series has been hit by injuries and Covid cases with this Sunday’s episode cancelled.

On Valentine’s Day the show had less than 20 minutes of live skating.

Now, bosses are worried how they will fill two hours of primetime TV.

An insider said: “The production team are in overdrive and all sorts of ideas have been thrown around. The worst-case ­scenario was pulling the show but they know they can’t allow that.

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The presenter is keen to get his skates on again after winning the show last year

“Options included bringing back former champs and their partners to ­perform one-off routines.

“The team also mooted the idea of having more pro routines which could help fill time and would be visually impressive.

“Meetings have been taking place all week and the team have been told all ideas are welcome.”

Past winners include Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, 35, in 2013.

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Jason Donovan had to sit out last weekend’s show with a back injury

Emmerdale’s Joe-Warren Plant, 18, and his pro partner Vanessa Bauer, 24, were dropped after positive Covid tests. But they will be allowed back if they post a negative test, as they missed only a week.

Rufus Hound, 41, who also had Covid, Billie Shepherd, 31, and Denise van Outen, 46, who were both injured, all had at least two weeks off.

Reserves Olympian Amy Tinkler, 21, and comedian Matt Richardson, 29, were called in but voted off.

Jason Donovan, 52, had to sit out last weekend’s show with a back injury.

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Joe-Warren Plant and Vanessa Bauer both had positive Covid tests

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