Jason Gardiner has said he is “relieved” after “disturbing” Gemma Collins was booted out of Dancing On Ice.
The Australian judge, who has locked horns with Collins on and off the ice, made sure to make his feelings clear as he blasted her “disturbing” behaviour and insisted he had never heard of her before the show.
He told Lorraine Kelly: "I didn't know who Gemma was until this series, I've never seen her show so I wasn't familiar with who she was, so there was nothing personal until it did get personal, and she accused me of something really quite libellous.
“Actually it was disturbing because she never actually apologised either, so that to me shows real character.”
Asked if he was glad to see the 38-year-old leave the competition, Gardiner said he was “relieved for the other contestants in the show” and that they would have “time to shine” now Collins will be out of the headlines.
Gardiner and Collins feuded since she first set foot on the ice, with Collins accusing him of “selling stories” in an explosive rant live from the rink.
Gardiner branded her “lazy and mediocre” for her first week skate, and later criticised her lack of elegance.
Collins hit back: “Can I just say one thing? Maybe if you didn’t sell stories on me, maybe I wouldn’t have been so upset this week. So take that. Boring. Next. Don’t sell stories on me. Don’t sell stories on me. Please don’t sell stories on me.”
Gardiner then called her a “brat” before their spat was ended, with the Australian judge later liking negative tweets about Collins.
Lorraine airs weekdays at 8.30am on ITV. Dancing On Ice is on ITV, Sunday at 6pm
