Myleene Klass tears knee cartilage ahead of first Dancing On Ice solo skating debut

Myleene Klass has had a setback ahead of her solo skating debut for Dancing On Ice this weekend, after tearing a cartilage in her knee. 

The presenter, 42, is grimacing through the pain to get through rehearsals with her partner Lukasz Rozycki and has to wear supports on both knees following the injury.  

The Mirror reports Myleene, who took part in the group dance on Sunday’s show launch, has torn her meniscus, while her ‘dodgy second knee’ also needs extra support. 

Her torn meniscus will only heal if it is allowed to fully rest but that is no option for Myleene, who filmed herself at rehearsals on Tuesday.

An ITV source told the publication: ‘Myleene has picked up a knee injury during training and she is having physio sessions to try to help with both her knees ahead of her first dance on screen with Lukasz on Sunday.  

‘It is very early on to be in pain and having knee problems but Myleene is determined to carry on and won’t let it ruin her experience.

‘She will be going through the pain barrier and the show means a lot to her and her children so this may not stop her but it certainly won’t help her chances of winning.’ 

MailOnline has contacted Dancing On Ice for comment. 

Myleene’s injury comes after Dancing On Ice was slammed for putting pressure on an already overburdened National Health Service after three contestants required medical assistance before the show had launched.  

The popular ITV staple returned with a 13th series on Sunday evening, but injuries to two professional skaters and a celebrity contestant have overshadowed rehearsals.    

Both Yebin Mok and Andy Buchanan required hospital treatment after suffering injury while rehearsing with respective partners Graham Bell and Rebekah Vardy, while Denise Van Outen dislocated her shoulder prior to Sunday’s launch. 

Yebin praised the NHS from her hospital bed after she was forced to pull out of the competition when she was stabbed in the shin by celebrity partner Graham Bell’s ice skate in a freak accident, leaving her tendons exposed.  

While in a separate incident fellow skater Andy needed treatment after being struck in the face by partner Rebekah’s skate. 

Despite show venue Bovington Airfield having an on-site medic, it’s understood that all three were sent to A&E after sustaining their injuries, with Mok – who suffered a deep gash to the leg – remaining in hospital overnight.

A faction of viewers have since criticised the show for putting undue pressure on doctors and nurses as they struggle to cope following a dramatic spike in coronavirus infections across the United Kingdom. 

Taking to Twitter on Sunday evening, one concerned fan wrote: ‘This needs to stop or change. We need to protect our NHS not put additional and completely avoidable strain on it.’ 

The same fan added: ‘Love @dancingonice but already seen at least 3 admissions to A&E at a time when the NHS is deciding who lives or dies because of how critically stretched they are now…

‘Is this responsible? Surely @ITV could afford to pay for private medical treatment instead.’ 

A second wrote:  ‘UK Gov: don’t put unnecessary strain on the NHS… ITV: let’s strap knives to celebrities’ feet.’ 

Commenting on the show’s growing injury list, a third commented: ‘I found it really upsetting watching the program @dancingonicelast night noticing how many people on the show had to go to A&E at a time when our @NHSuk is so overstretched!’  

 ITV declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.