Dancing on Ice Judge Cleared of Making Offensive Comments

23 Feb 2010

Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner has been cleared of breaking broadcasting rules by comparing a performance by Sharon Davies to "faecal matter".

Gardiner made the comments on the show on January 31st describing her dance as "faecal matter that won't flush -it goes around and around and around and in the end it doesn't go anywhere,"

The TV watchdog OFCOM had received more than 400 complaints from viewers who felt the remarks were offensive and unsuitable to be heard by children.

But OFCOM has said the remarks did not break broadcasting rules and were justified by the context of the show. They felt the comments were part of the talent show format where judges often make cutting and personal remarks.

In the ruling OFCOM said; "Jason Gardiner is well established as the acerbic ‘nasty’ judge on Dancing on Ice," It continued that he "seems quite content to play up to his ‘pantomime villain’ image within the format of the show. This was demonstrated by the fact that every comment he makes is almost invariably booed by the audience, as was the case regarding the comments he made about Sharon Davies on this occasion"

They added that "faecal matter" was a "medical term rather than a more commonly-used offensive word".

Sharon Davies was the latest celebrity to be voted off the show after a skate off with Emily Atack on Sunday's show. Sharon scored just 16 points with the judges after a troubled week where she changed her song against the wishes of Torvil and Dean.

It was former Emmerdale actress Hayley Tammadon who topped the leader board on Sunday's show scoring an impressive 26 points with the judges.

Tammadon is still favourite to win the competition with Sporting Bet offering odds of 3/4 that she will win the show. After being in the skate off on Sunday's show the Inbetweeners actress Emily Atack is favourite to be booted off the show next week. Skybet have priced her as 6/4 to be the next celebrity to leave the talent show.

All odds correct at time of writing and are subject to change.