Dancing on Ice in turmoil as Brendan Cole posts ‘anti-vax’ rant on Instagram

Brendan Cole has sparked Covid fears over next month’s launch of Dancing On Ice after posting a lengthy anti-Government rant about vaccines on Instagram.

It has sparked fears that he might not have been vaccinated, which would prompt a similar crisis to the one on the BBC’s Strictly show earlier this year.

In September it was revealed that three of Strictly’s stars had not had the Covid jab, which led to fury of the set.

Sources claim that ITV chiefs fear they may have a ‘big headache’ after being made aware of Mr Cole’s public social media posts.

Last week he appealed to his Instagram followers to attend yesterday’s ‘Freedom March’ in London’s Parliament Square to protest against the Government’s Covid measures, and for freedom of choice over the jabs.

New Zealand-born Cole, 45, who has been partnered with 21-year-old German professional skater Vanessa Bauer for Dancing On Ice, declined to comment.

A source close to him claimed he had been vaccinated, but The Mail on Sunday could not verify this. Writing on Instagram to his 88,000 followers, he said: ‘If you are concerned as I am about Government mandates, use your voice. It’s a slippery slope when Government can dictate and mandate what we do to our own body, or make it difficult to exist if they don’t conform to their mandates. Change the word vaccine to anything else and you should have your answer. Does another human have the right to force you into doing something to your body? The answer should be unequivocally no.

‘If you wish to have the vaccine, stand proud and have it, but as human beings we should respect others who have a different stance for whatever reason.’ Earlier this year, Cole left his followers with the impression that he is anti-vax on his Instagram biography, which included a needle emoji besides the words ‘pro freedom of choice’.

It was later removed.

Mr Cole’s post has reignited fears about the possibility of all the stars on Dancing On Ice not being vaccinated.

It could also be a worry for host Holly Willoughby, who is said to be ‘petrified’ of getting Covid, and fellow presenter Phillip Schofield, who has praised the vaccination effort.

A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s a worry for Dancing on Ice, but they can’t make anyone have the vaccine. The show is all too similar to Strictly, as is the scenario over jabs, and it all got very difficult for the BBC. ITV’s hands are tied here and that is what is causing headaches.’

The new series will star Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Webster, Love Islander Liberty Poole, Happy Mondays dancer Bez, paralympian Stef Reid, rugby star Ben Foden and pop star and actress Kimberly Wyatt. Other contestants are Regan Gascoigne, son of former footballer Paul, pop star Rachel Stevens, presenter Ria Hebden, BMX Olympic silver medalist Kye Whyte and The Vamps’ Connor Ball. An ITV spokesman said last night: ‘Dancing On Ice has stringent protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of all contributors and staff. These are routinely monitored and updated to reflect the current guidelines.’

…and here’s the unruly mob at Parliament rally he backed

By Jonathan Bucks for the Mail on Sunday 

Thousands of anti-lockdown protesters blocked streets and let off smoke bombs in London yesterday amid mounting fury over Boris Johnson’s Covid restrictions.

Demonstrators wielding placards stating ‘No medical apartheid’ and ‘Truth, Rights, Freedom’ clashed with police in Westminster.

The group behind the protest, Together Declaration, said it was ‘gravely concerned about where the introduction of vaccine passports could lead’.

It added: ‘Being ordered to produce medical certification at pubs, clubs, theatres, on public transport, at schools, universities or anywhere else is unwarranted and risks deepening the inequalities already present within our society.’

Protests also took place in Bournemouth, Blackburn, , Bristol, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and on the Isle of Wight.

The Government’s Plan B measures were voted through last week amid spiralling cases of the Omicron variant. They include mandatory wearing of masks at all indoor public venues such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship.

Guidance to work from home if possible has also returned and entry to nightclubs or other large venues requires a Covid pass proving double vaccination or a negative lateral flow test.

Last night police were urged to arrest the brother of Jeremy Corbyn after he appeared to urge anti-vaccine protesters to kill MPs – just weeks after Tory MP David Amess was stabbed to death.

Piers Corbyn told a crowd after the Plan B vote in the Commons: ‘We’ve got to hammer to death those scum who have decided to go ahead with introducing new fascism.

‘We have got to get a list of them … and if your MP is one of them, go to their offices, and, well, I’d recommend burning them down.’

After a video of his speech was posted on Twitter last night, Mail on Sunday columnist Piers Morgan said: ‘This is appalling. Piers Corbyn is inciting the murder of MPs. He should be arrested and jailed.’

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: ‘The Piers Corbyn video is sickening. I back the police to take the strongest action against him.’

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