Dancing on Ice: Rufus Hound forced to drop out of competition after testing positive for coronavirus

Comedian had been due to perform on Sunday’s show

Rufus Hound has dropped out of Dancing on Ice after testing positive for coronavirus twice.

On Wednesday (3 February) evening, the comedian shared a video to Twitter explaining that he would not be able to continue on the show with partner Robin Johnstone.

“I will no longer be participating in @dancingonice,” he tweeted. “Covid is – as I’m sure we’re all well aware – a b*****d and sadly the world isn’t short of those.”

In the accompanying video, Hound explained that he’d sat out last week’s show after coming into contact with someone with Covid-19, but had ended up testing positive himself anyway.

"Unfortunately the rules on Dancing on Ice are completely cut and dry, very strict, because they need to keep everybody on that production as safe as possible,” he explained.

"So it seemed like when I was just quarantining, there might be a window of opportunity for me to get back to the show, a window which I now know doesn’t exist. That’s it.”

Read more: Dancing on Ice judge defends Rufus Hound over free school meals remark

During his first appearance on the show, Hound and Johnstone skated to “Think About Things” by Eurovision singer Daði Freyr, earning the judges’ golden ticket allowing him to skate through to week three (this Sunday) without facing the public vote.

The comedian also made headlines after calling out the government over the free school meals scandal following his first performance.

An ITV spokesperson said: “We can confirm that following a positive test result, Rufus Hound is unable to return to Dancing On Ice this weekend.

“Although Rufus and his partner Robin’s time on the ice has been all too brief, they can be truly proud of their achievements. We thank them for all their hard work and commitment to the show.”

Hound will be replaced on the show by comedian Matt Richardson, who will be joining the show with skater partner Vicky Ogden.

Dancing on Ice returns on Sunday at 6pm on ITV.