Leaking on Ice… ITV stars launch hunt for show’s mole after spate of damaging stories

Leaking on Ice… ITV stars launch hunt for hit television show’s mole after spate of damaging sources risk bruising the reputations of celebrities taking part

Dancing On Ice stars are facing a problem with leaks – and it’s got nothing to do with a melting rink.

Celebrities taking part in the latest series of the hit ITV show have found that the risk of suffering a bruised reputation is as high as breaking a bone following a spate of critical stories in the media. The show’s stars have now launched a hunt for the mole.

Since the series began on January 17, eight damaging leaks have appeared. The Mail on Sunday understands that some of the celebrities have been left in tears by the disclosures.

One leak revealed that former Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes, 33, who dances with Hamish Gaman, had plugged fitness and beauty brands on social media while mentioning Dancing On Ice, which is against ITV’s rules.

A leak revealed that former Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes, 33, who dances with Hamish Gaman (pictured together), had plugged fitness and beauty brands on social media while mentioning Dancing On Ice, which is against ITV’s rules

Emmerdale actor Joe-Warren Plant, 18, was plunged into a ‘fix row’ when a newspaper learned he had taken figure-skating lessons before joining Dancing On Ice.

Meanwhile, comedian Rufus Hound, 41, was at the centre of a storm when tweets in which he made tasteless comments about the Manchester Arena terror attack in 2017 were unearthed. He has since left the show after testing positive for Covid-19.

Stories also appeared in the media claiming that former Olympic skier Graham Bell, 55, had a tantrum backstage after being eliminated from the show in last weekend’s skate-off.

Details of a knee injury suffered during training by musician and presenter Myleene Klass, 42, also appeared in the media.

One newspaper even received detailed information about the celebrities’ contracts.

Ten stars, including Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler, 21, and Olympic hurdler Colin Jackson, 53, model Rebekah Vardy, 38, the wife of footballer Jamie Vardy, singer and former Neighbours star Jason Donovan, 52, and comedian and TV presenter Matt Richardson, 29, are still in the competition.

The celebrities are keen to avoid bad publicity because the scores awarded by the judges each week are combined with the results of a public vote to determine the two lowest-placed couples. They then fight for survival in a skate-off.

One show insider told the MoS: ‘To have so many stories coming out in such a short amount of time is very strange and at odds with previous years. The suspicion it has caused on the show is huge, with some determined to find out just where those stories are coming from.’

Last night, an ITV spokesman declined to comment on the series of leaks.