ITV have confirmed that Matt Chapman has quit ‘Dancing On Ice’.
The horse racing commentator took over the voiceover reigns from the late legendary broadcaster Tony Gubba when the celebrity ice skating competition returned to screens last week, but after just one week in the job, ITV have confirmed he has decided to step down from his position.
In a statement released exclusively to BANG! Showbiz, ITV said: "We can confirm that Matt Chapman has left the show, and wish him all the very best and look forward to him reporting at ITV Racing at Warwick this weekend."
Matt revealed the news earlier on Thursday (11.01.18), when he said he would be "hanging up" his skates and returning to track he is familiar with.
He said: "I’ve decided to hang up my skates, leave the rink and return to the turf and I wish the show the best of luck for the rest of the run."
The commentator had spent months learning the names of the moves as well as of the 12 celebrity contestants – including Brooke Vincent, Kem Cetinay and Donna Air – but his abrupt voice overs and cheesy one liners didn’t impress viewers and many of them took to social media to beg ITV to sack him and find a replacement.
A source said: "Matt decided he couldn’t make his diary quite work as he thought.
"He’s a big character and a talented sports commentator but he had some mixed reviews in the first show, and he told ITV that perhaps it wasn’t for him after all.
"It was always going to be a big gig following Tony who did eight series before he died in 2013. After Sunday’s show Matt told producers they would have to look elsewhere for a commentator for the rest of the series."
ITV are now on a desperate to hunt to find someone to fill in for him by this weekend, as the show returns to screens for the second episode on Sunday (14.01.18).
ITV confirm Matt Chapman’s Dancing On Ice departure
