Matt Evers has spoken out to defend his Dancing On Ice partner Gemma Collins following reports she’s been a “diva” backstage.
Earlier this week, Gemma was accused of being late for a dress rehearsal, after previously holding everyone up at the group rehearsal, because she was “having a nap”.
However, during Wednesday’s Lorraine, Matt revealed the truth behind the rumours and insisted she didn’t have a nap.
Read more: DOI bosses slam claims Gemma Collins is ‘refusing to be filmed backstage’
Phoning into the show, Matt said: “I’m on my way into work right now and she is about 15 minutes behind me. She’s coming to the rink today we have a double session planned.
“I’ve got a fantastic routine planned for her.”
Addressing the rumours surrounding Gemma, Matt continued: “She did not have a nap.
“I mean we all want to take a nap on Sunday because we’re there all day Saturday for rehearsals and first thing in the morning on Sunday.
“We do camera blocking all morning and then we have a dress rehearsal in the afternoon. By the time the show hits at 6 o’clock, you’re exhausted.”
He added: “We weren’t performing a competition number this Sunday, we just had the group number, and after the group number she thought she was free to go.
“That was just a miscommunication between stage management, her and everything. She got a text from her car that had said your car has arrived, and she asked somebody – whom I’m not sure – and they were like, ‘Yeah, you’re finished.'”
On Monday, Love Island star Kem Cetinay told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: “So we did the group routine rehearsal before and she was having a nap. She wasn’t there.”
Phil replied: “The entire studio, that is that massive studio with all the people involved were all standing there waiting.”
Holly added: “Including Jayne [Torvill] and Chris [Dean] who were sitting on the judging panel as it was a full dress rehearsal.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that Gemma was left “in floods of tears” and threatening to quit the show after Holly criticised her lack of professionalism.
Holly said during This Morning: “I really love Gemma, I’m a big fan of Gemma’s and I think she’s great on the show.
Read more: Holly Willoughby hits out at Gemma Collins over ‘diva’ antics on DOI
“But, I think there needs to be a little bit of professionalism that comes into any work you do. Just a little pride in your work. You shouldn’t just do that.”
However, a representative for Dancing On Ice confirmed there is “no truth” to the claims and Gemma “has not quit the show”.
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