Dancing On Ice’s Alex Demetriou AXED from the next series

Los Angeles:Dancing On Ice professional Alex Demetriou has been axed from the next series after he is said to have grown close to former contestant Maura Higgins.  It comes amid claims that Denise Van Outen has signed up to the upcoming series as a contestant in a staggering £40,000 deal.

Alex, confirmed he had separated from his wife and fellow Dancing on Ice pro Carlotta Edwards, in April after developing a ‘close bond’ to the Love Island star, on the last series. And ITV bosses are reportedly ‘desperate’ not to gain ‘a show curse’, like BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing, and are keen to avoid any drama overshadowing the skating. A source said: ‘They want to keep the focus of the show on the ice and the marriage rumours surrounding Alex and Carlotta weren’t very on-brand for the family-friendly series’. An ITV spokesman said that both Alex and Carlotta will not be in the main cast for the 2021 series.

‘As we approach each new series we consult with all of our skaters to discuss best pairings and opportunities going forward and sometimes this means a break from the main cast.’

‘Alex Demetriou and Carlotta Edwards will not be in our main cast lineup for Dancing on Ice when it returns in 2021. This doesn’t mean it’s a final farewell and they both remain much loved members of the Dancing on Ice family with potential to return.’

It was said Alex and Carlotta’s four-year marriage had ‘collapsed’, following his pairing with Maura on the ITV contest last year, where Alex allegedly became ‘besotted’ with the reality star. However ITV intend for the show to come back ‘bigger and better than ever’ and want to avoid ‘any bad tastes’ from the previous series.

In May, Alex admitted that he and Maura ‘never hid’ the fact that they were ‘close friends’ and their closeness was tough for his estranged wife.