Dancing On Ice’s Jason Donovan vows to return to the show as he gets physio on back injury

DANCING On Ice star Jason Donovan shared the lengths he is going to in a bid to overcome his back injury on Instagram today.

The 52-year-old was forced to pull out of Sunday’s episode suffering with back pain, and was ordered by doctors to "take it easy".

And now the former Neighbours star teased his progress as he underwent extensive physiotherapy after he vowed to return to the ITV skating show.

In the clip uploaded to his Instagram Story, Jason was seen lying on his stomach as he tried out transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy which provides short-term pain relief.

The West End star gave the thumbs up as the camera panned down his back to show four electrodes placed on his lower back.

Jason attempted to make light of his treatment as he joked that the remote for it looked like a video game controller: "Nintendo back pain healing."

The Aussie star's social media post comes a day after fans insisted that Jason should be booted off the ITV series for missing two shows in a row.

The hitmaker was forced to pull out of Sunday’s episode suffering with back pain, and was ordered by doctors to "take it easy".

The Aussie was automatically given a bye into the next round, but would be forced to quit for good if he couldn't get show fit by the next episode.

According to show rules, celebrities are allowed to miss one week of the competition without being eliminated.

However following his withdrawal from Sunday's installment, bosses have axed this weekend's Dancing On Ice to give the celebrities and their professional partners a week's break following a spate of injuries.

In light of the news, DOI fans have insisted that Jason should be kicked off the skating series for being allowed two weeks to recover instead of the usual one.

A furious viewer penned on Twitter: "Does this mean you'll allow @JoeWarrenPlant back in, as technically he won't have missed second week now?

Does this mean you'll allow @JoeWarrenPlant back in, as technically he won't have missed second week now?
Seems unfair to give Jason a longer recovery for his injury when others haven't had that. Or perhaps there's more to it (Covid bubbles not working) than we're being told?

— Gem P (@GemmyP_7) February 16, 2021

Interesting move.
Wonder what finally pushed them into this, maybe Jason wouldn't be better in time and they realised they'd be down too many to bother with it, but couldn't give him another pass as per the rules that forced Billie out.
Will it even return?#dancingonice https://t.co/NnVZse6J5J

— em ✨ (@buswells_x) February 15, 2021

"Seems unfair to give Jason a longer recovery for his injury when others haven't had that. Or perhaps there's more to it (Covid bubbles not working) than we're being told?"

"Interesting move," another shared. "Wonder what finally pushed them into this, maybe Jason wouldn't be better in time and they realised they'd be down too many to bother with it, but couldn't give him another pass as per the rules that forced Billie out. Will it even return?"

Actor Jason became the latest casualty of DOI, after telling bosses he was in too much pain due a back injury to take part in Sunday’s show.

An ITV representative confirmed Jason, who is competing on the show with professional skater Alexandra Schauman, has been advised to rest after suffering from back pain.

Jason added to the statement: "I’ve had back pain the past couple of days and I’m under doctor’s orders to take it easy and sit this week out.

"I'm resting up, I'll be watching from home and cheering everyone on and I look forward to returning next week."

If he quits it would mean that five famous faces have withdrawn this series alone, with no more back-ups available to call upon.

To make matters worse for beleaguered producers on the skating show, at least two other stars are nursing injuries.

Rapper Lady Leshurr, 32, has complained about pain in her leg, while Rebekah Vardy, 38, has a groin strain.

Jason is the latest celebrity to pull out of the competition - just days after Emmerdale's Joe-Warren Plant and his partner Vanessa Bauer were forced to withdraw after they both tested positive for coronavirus.

Earlier this month, it was revealed comedian Rufus Hound was withdrawing from the competition after he also tested positive for coronavirus.

Reality TV star Billie Shepherd also left the show early after injuring herself during a fall.

Actress and singer Denise Van Outen was rushed to A&E after a lift attempt with pro Matt Evers went disastrously wrong and she dislocated her shoulder. The injury later forced her out of the competition. 

Graham Bell’s first professional partner Yebin Mok was hospitalised after suffering a horror injury on the ice back in January.