'Dancing on Ice Judge' Jason Gardiner Launches Attack on Skating Coach

ITV1's "Dancing On Ice" judge Jason Gardiner has never been one to mince his words, but did he overstep the mark this week when he made an attack on skating coach Karen Barber? The tweeting British public seem to think so!

There have been many moments in the past when Jason Gardiner has overstepped the mark when critiquing a celebrity skater's performance. His most infamous comment - up until now - involved swimmer Sharron Davies. In 2010's "Dancing On Ice" competition, Jason Gardiner said of Davies, "You look like faecal matter that won't flush that goes around and around but doesn't go anywhere." His remark sparked many complaints to ITV1, and Gardiner was forced to apologise.

It seems that having to make an apology was not enough to teach him anything. In the 2011 series alone he accused Jeff Brazier of dancing as if he is missing some chromosomes, accused Chloe Madeley of having a "baboon bum" and said "Comedy" Dave Vitty moves like he has rigamortis. It was his criticism of Johnson Beharry that prompted the biggest outrage though. While Jason Gardiner's comments to him were not a personal attack on the man himself, former judge and skating coach Karen Barber's defence of Beharry led to what could have been a live on-screen brawl.

Karen Barber is sensitive at the best of times, and is well known for becoming attached to the contestants. She has always been fiercely protective of them, even when she was on the judging panel. Barber was in tears over Gardiner's comments to Johnson Beharry - presumably because she has got to know him and understands the struggles he has been through. When she mentioned that Beharry's skating has come along way since he first began, Gardiner responded with, "If your opinion mattered, you'd be on the panel." His words were met with disgust from the audience, and Karen Barber got up from her seat and confronted him face to face, telling him he is offensive - something which many people seemed to agree with. In the second half of the show, Jason Gardiner made an attempt to apologise to Karen but she refused to accept it, deeming him a "nasty man". The cynics among us might think he made the comment to ensure he keeps his job and to stop any further complaints against him - but the damage had already been done.

The posts on Twitter from irate viewers began instantly and continued for well over an hour - they are still coming through as I write. Some of the comments seen are posted below:

@lukieboy1981 - "I normally commend @OfficialJasonG for his opinions even if I don't agree. Tonight however he went too far with the Karen comment"

@truestepper - "Just watched the Karen v Jason thing, thought Karen was gonna belt him. And she is way more deserving of being on the panel than him"

@Y0rkieGirl - "Get Karen Barber back on the judging panel, I love @officialJasonG but tonight he punched below the belt at Karen

@ArsenalSarah - "Public bullying in the name of entertainment, do something #DOIThis is not comfortable TV #JasonGardiner

Many of the other tweets contained bad language and a lot more anger towards Gardiner, some even started a "Twition" to get him removed from the show.

Whether or not ITV1 will listen to the complaints of the viewers remains to be seen - but there is a good chance fans of "Dancing On Ice" may be turning off if Jason Gardiner continues to throw abusive comments at British favourites.

Sources:

Jason Gardiner/Sharron Davies