Ryan Thomas of Dancing On Ice was left red-faced after having not one, but two major falls on live television, and spectators took notes.
The 39-year-old former Coronation Street actor began Musicals Week on a high note, skating to Guys and Dolls’ Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat with professional partner Amani Fancy.
Ryan provided the grins, the excitement, and even some chairography, but he struggled to stay on his feet throughout the performance.
The beloved soap star stacked it twice, humiliating him in front of the judges (including guest judge and skating champion Johnny Weir) and the audience.
Ryan, ever the soldier, got right back on his skates and finished the programme in excellent spirits.Asked by host Holly Willoughby if he had injured himself afterwards, he assured her: ‘No, I haven’t hurt myself.’
On the shame of it all, he laughed: ‘I just hope my kids weren’t watching because that was embarrassing!’
Ryan then thanked the crowd for their support and encouragement.
Johnny, a two-time Olympian, also provided some encouraging input.
‘Never be embarrassed by what you put out here in front of people, because it’s performances like that that allow you to have the brilliant performances later on.’
Hyping Ryan up, Oti Mabuse added: ‘Don’t get in your head about that. I’m going to applaud you for getting up twice and actually performing.’
Jayne Torvill noted: ‘You did all the difficult stuff so take all that home with you, the lift the jump… it was just the basics.’
Ryan and Imani received scores of 5.5, 6.5, 6.5, and 6.5 from the panel, totaling 25 points.
In response to Lou Sanders’ live TV blunder(s), X users couldn’t help but note the disparity in comments and ratings, with many accusing the panel of ‘favouritism.’
‘How did Ryan get near enough the same score as Lou if she didn’t fall and he did twice?’, wrote WayhaughtLunar.
‘So Ryan fell over twice and got the same score as Lou who did a clean routine’, noted julia00466431.
User charters65 penned: ‘So Ryan fell twice and was still scored the same as Lou by Oti and Jayne. Just goes to show that Lou is being undermarked week after week.’
‘So they gave Ryan 6.5 who fell TWICE, but gave Lou the same who didn’t?! Make it make sense’, begged Meggamon.
How did Ryan get near enough the same score as Lou if she didn’t fall and he did twice? #DancingOnIce
— Laura- #WynonnaEarp #WelcomeHomeWynonna 🏳️🌈 (@WayhaughtLunar) February 11, 2024
How can Ryan fall TWICE and some of them still give 6.5 like they gave to Lou? #DancingOnIce
— Daniel Winfield (@danielsw1997) February 11, 2024
They’re seriously under marking Lou Sanders every week. Ryan fell over twice and got around the same scores as Lou when hers was pretty clean! #DancingOnIce
— Stan (@MrStanBrooks) February 11, 2024
So they gave Ryan 6.5 who fell TWICE, but gave Lou the same who didn’t?! Make it make sense 😭 #DancingOnIce
— Megan🫠 (@Meggamon) February 11, 2024
https://twitter.com/AmyJoanne__/status/1756754866574164275Indeed, Lou skated first this week, bringing Henry VIII’s ladies to the rink for the musical Six.
She and her partner Brendyn Hatfield received 26.5 points from the judges, including 6.5s from both Oti and Jayne.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to keep her in the competition, as she was ousted after a skate-off with EastEnders’ Ricky Norwood.
This week, however, was not the first time spectators accused the judges of undermarking, since they had battled Lou’s corner until her elimination.
Last week, viewers raged as they reckoned the judges ‘have it in for’ Lou.
Far from satisfied with Lou’s feedback after she performed a waltz on ice, one branded the panel ‘evil’ while others said she had been receiving unnecessarily ‘harsh’ comments since week 1.
Dancing On Ice continues next Sunday on ITV1 and ITVX.
