Dancing On Ice star Ben Hanlin has revealed he is struggling with an injury days before the new series kicks off.
The magician told his followers on Instagram that he is unable to do some of the lifts in his routine with skating partner Carlotta Edwards after falling on the ice.
In an Instagram story, Hanlin showed the strap around his chest.
He said: “We have a problem. A couple of days ago I went on the ice just before I came back, I wanted to work off the Christmas turkey.
“I’ve had a big injury, I’ve fallen over, I’ve smashed my ribs and they’re all strapped up, and under that strapping I’ve got more strapping.
“I’ve just been out skating, and I couldn’t do some of the lifts. I couldn’t lift Carlotta because my ribs are doing me in.
“I’ve got until Sunday to just get through it, and just do it anyway. So not a great start to the first show.”
Hanlin, 33, is one of the first six stars set to take to the ice in Sunday’s launch show and is due to perform a routine to Bring Me To Life by Evanescence.
Sharing more details of his fall, he told the Sun Online: “I was warming up, I’d just stepped on the ice, I was going left and right, hit a toe pick, slammed face first, belly flopped looking like a complete idiot and got up and realised that my ribs hit the ice first.
“I was winded, I tried to carry on, I’ve been in agony ever since.”
The magician, known for presenting ITV2 series Tricked, is one of 12 stars signed up for the new series along with TV presenters Trisha Goddard and Joe Swash, Love Island star Maura Higgins and Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins.
Veteran TV star Michael Barrymore had been in the line-up but was forced to pull out after breaking his wrist in a fall.
He was replaced by ex-Blue Peter star Radzi Chinyanganya.
Dancing On Ice, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, is on ITV at 6pm on Sunday January 5.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
