Gemma Collins has thanked Holly Willoughby for her support throughout her turbulent time on Dancing On Ice with Jason Gardiner.
The reality star paid tribute to Willoughby and all her fans in a lengthy Instagram post after the host’s appearance on The One Show on Thursday night.
Collins, 38, shared a clip of Willoughby singing her praises and admitting that she “loved” having “brilliant” Collins on the series.
Alongside the clip, Collins wrote: “Thank you @hollywilloughby I won’t let the negativity get me down for everyone who has supported me and was behind me I will be back this Sunday.
“No one is gonna bring me down. Myself and @themattevers we’re overwhelmed with the support so .... THIS ONE IS FOR YOU.”
Willoughby had also told presenters Alex Jones and Amol Rajan that she had been Team GC and was really hoping that Collins would perform on Sunday night’s grand final amid rumours that a spat with judge Gardiner – where he compared her nickname to a brand of refrigerator - had caused her to “pull out” of the show.
However, Willoughby can rest easy as Collins has shared clips of her practising on the ice ahead of the grand final, and has asked fans which routine of hers they would like to see again.
Collins also addressed the speculation over her highly-anticipated return during an interview with Jonathan Ross, filmed hours after she had accused Gardiner of “bullying” her with the refrigerator comment.
“I did pull out and then I thought, to everyone that has supported me, for my own self esteem, I am not going to back down to anybody,” she said.
“I am going to walk back in on that show on Sunday night and I am going to skate like it’s the last day of my life.”
Collins and Gardiner pretty much feuded from day one, with things coming to a head in a live-on-air rant during which Collins accused Gardiner of “selling stories on her”.
Gardiner bit back, calling her a “brat”, before liking a series of negative tweets about her on social media and branding her ice rink fall as "karma".
Collins later said that the drama was behind her, telling The Sun that she “couldn’t be bothered with any ill-feeling”.
Dancing On Ice is on ITV, Sunday at 6pm
