Politician Oona King has been the latest celebrity contestant to be booted off Dancing On Ice after her professional partner took a dramatic fall seconds before their skate-off performance. Dancer Mark Hanretty dislocated his shoulder in the fall as the couple got into position and had to receive medical attention before it was confirmed that he was able to take part in their last dance.
A worried Oona, who was called over by presenter Phillip Schofield as medics treated Mark, said: "I'm sure it was my fault because he's the most amazing skater in this show. "With uncertainty hanging over the couple, mentor Jayne Torvill said: "You know when a professional can't get up like that it's pretty serious. "Phillip then told Oona, a former Labour MP also known as Baroness King of Bow, that she and her partner had "given us a very dramatic moment".
Mark, however, was not fazed by the accident. The skater quipped: "It popped back out, but they popped it back in. I'm fine. It's good."
Expressing concern for his heavily pregnant wife, the sportsman added: "Sorry about the stress. I might have sent her into labour!"
A twist the third show revealed that the skaters would duel in pairs to determine who would enter the skate-off. Challenged to skate to the same music but perform different routines, the politician lost out to gymnast Beth Tweddle. She and Gareth Thomas secured the lowest amount of public votes out of the losing couples, leaving comedian Joe Pasquale and singer Shayne Ward in the clear.
After a short time, the couple performed an originally choreographed routine to the hit Just The Two Of Us, but the judges opted to save ex-rugby player Gareth Thomas and his partner Robin Johnstone who danced to Queen track Somebody To Love.
Judge Ashley Roberts told both couples they had put on "amazing performances", while controversial judge Jason Gardiner said it was "definitely one of the most dramatic skate-offs we've ever had".
Head judge Robin Cousins told Oona: "Against anyone else, a skate of that calibre would easily have taken you through." On learning her fate, Oona, who is known for losing her Bethnal Green seat to Respect leader George Galloway, said she "adored" the experience. She said: "I loved learning how to skate. I think more people in Britain should do it. "Referring to her injured partner, she added: "I feel really devastated for him because I'd like people to see his skating more." Mark then joked: "I didn't expect to have as much fun as I had with a politician."X Factor winners Little Mix performed on Sunday's ITV show, singing their new single Change Your Life for the audience whilst the professional skaters danced beneath them.Oona King is the third contestant to be voted off the 2013 series of the show, following in the footsteps of Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson and TOWIE star Lauren Goodger.
