Ex-Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner fears show’s first same-sex couple might be ‘tokenism’
EX-Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner has taken a swipe at the show after it decided to feature a same-sex couple.
Jason, who won’t be returning in January after rowing with Gemma Collins on air last year, said he’s worried putting professional skater Matt Evers and pop star Ian ‘H’ Watkins together is simply “tokenism”.
Speaking on The Jeremy Vine show on Thursday, Jason, 47, added: “All I hope is that it isn’t tokenism.
“That they don’t make it camp and flamboyant and it’s a proper partnership because it has to also have that romance.
“I hope it is handled correctly and with dignity.
He added: “I hope it’s not made light of.”
Matt and Ian are making telly history by competing together on the ITV series.
It is hoped the move will usher in a string of same-sex telly dance partners.
A show source revealed: “After conversations with the Dancing on Ice production team, H enquired as to the possibility of being paired with a male pro skater.
“Bosses at Dancing on Ice are fully supportive of a same-sex partnership, so this year H will be paired with Matt.
“It’s a huge moment in TV history. A lot of viewers will be watching and the hope is it might set a trend.”
The pop star will link up with US pro skater Matt Evers, 43, who has been on the series since it started in 2006.
Dancing on Ice has beaten Strictly Come Dancing to the punch to make UK telly history with the first same-sex pairing on a reality dance competition.
The landmark move follows years of speculation about same-sex couples on dance shows and will heap extra pressure on its rival Strictly.
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The BBC show opted not to include one this season despite years of speculation and debate — and has been pipped to the post.
Meanwhile, Jason revealed his reasons for not returning to DOI in an Instagram post back in August.
The Aussie choreographer stressed how it felt like the right time to exit the show, having been part of the dancing competition since 2006.
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