There was drama in Sunday's Dancing On Ice semi-final after Gareth Thomas was eliminated from the show due to illness - leaving Matt Lapinskas, Beth Tweddle and Luke Campbell to compete for the series title next weekend.
The Welsh rugby star had earlier been forced to pull out of a routine which would have seen him take to the air, after suffering from severe motion sickness during training and dress rehearsals.
Although he made it through his first routine of the night with partner Robin Johnstone, the show's medical team later deemed him too unwell to attempt the second - with concerns about his health raised on air after he had taken to the ice for the first time.
He was later revealed to have been in the bottom two after the viewers' votes - but was subsequently eliminated by default due to being too sick to perform in the skate-off.
Gareth did not appear again after the result was announced, with Robin telling Phillip Schofield he was "resting".
She added: "He is a little disappointed," but said, "The sportsman that he is, he wanted me to pass on thank yous to everybody, cast, crew, Jayne, Chris, all the judges and of course all of the fans."
Christopher Dean, meanwhile, called the situation "a first", and said it was "not one that we really want to ever encounter".
"I know he’s going to be a lot upset having gotten to know Gareth he is such a competitor and a strong sportsman," he added. "He is going to be really gutted about this so our thoughts are with him thats for sure.”
As a result of Gareth's abrupt departure the skate-off was cancelled, with the remaining contestants each performing their 'save me' skate before being told they were in the final.
They also paid tribute to the sports star, with Matt saying, "He's been like an older brother to me," and Luke admitting, "I am gutted at the way Gareth has gone out because as another sportsman that's the last thing you want to do."
The Dancing On Ice 2013 final will be screened next Sunday night. See photos of the semi-final here.
