Sylvain Longchambon is out of show
Out ... Heidi Range will have a temporary partner while Sylvain recovers from injury
Published: Today at 00:20
DANCING On Ice is in chaos after Heidi Range's partner Sylvain Longchambon suffered a serious injury.
The French hunk will now have to sit out the early episodes of the hit ITV1 show after damaging muscles in his right arm while rehearsing with the Sugababes singer.
It is a bitter blow for bosses who had paired newly-single Heidi — who split from her DJ fiancé Dave Berry earlier this month after eight years together — with Sylvain in the hope it would add some passion to the ice show.
But Heidi will now have to dance with a temporary partner when the latest series, presented by Phillip Schofield and new co-host Christine Bleakley, hits our screens early next month.
An insider revealed: "This is gutting news for everyone concerned.
"Heidi and Sylvain were to be the glamour couple of the new series. He hurt the muscles in his right arm while practising on the ice with Heidi. It is quite serious.
"Sylvain will be fine but it's not yet known how long he will be out.
"Producers are confident he will be able to recover in time to rejoin Heidi later in the series. But for now they are planning to draft in a standby professional skater to partner her until Sylvain is better.
"He will still be involved in the choreography but he will have to do it from the sidelines."
Cheeky producers paired Heidi with Sylvain in a bid to duplicate the sexual chemistry he had with last year's partner, Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe.
They started dating on the show and are still together and spending Christmas in France.
Insiders said Heidi and Sylvain — who had been spotted practising at a London ice rink — had been getting on famously before he was injured.
One source added: "Sylvain is one of the hunkiest professional skaters on the show and he gets a lot of female attention.
"Jennifer fell for his charms when they skated together last year and they are still together now.
"But that hasn't stopped producers wanting to recreate some of that sexual energy this year.
"Heidi is one of the most popular girls due to take part in the show and is single again after splitting from Dave Berry.
"Who knows what might happen between them? Jennifer had better keep an eye on them just in case."
Celebrities believed to be lined up for the new series include Jennifer Ellison, another former Hollyoaks star, American actor Corey Feldman, singer Chesney Hawkes and exercise guru Rosemary Conley.
It is a bitter blow for bosses who had paired newly-single Heidi — who split from her DJ fiancé Dave Berry earlier this month after eight years together — with Sylvain in the hope it would add some passion to the ice show.
But Heidi will now have to dance with a temporary partner when the latest series, presented by Phillip Schofield and new co-host Christine Bleakley, hits our screens early next month.
An insider revealed: "This is gutting news for everyone concerned.
"Heidi and Sylvain were to be the glamour couple of the new series. He hurt the muscles in his right arm while practising on the ice with Heidi. It is quite serious.
"Sylvain will be fine but it's not yet known how long he will be out.
"Producers are confident he will be able to recover in time to rejoin Heidi later in the series. But for now they are planning to draft in a standby professional skater to partner her until Sylvain is better.
"He will still be involved in the choreography but he will have to do it from the sidelines."
Cheeky producers paired Heidi with Sylvain in a bid to duplicate the sexual chemistry he had with last year's partner, Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe.
They started dating on the show and are still together and spending Christmas in France.
Insiders said Heidi and Sylvain — who had been spotted practising at a London ice rink — had been getting on famously before he was injured.
One source added: "Sylvain is one of the hunkiest professional skaters on the show and he gets a lot of female attention.
"Jennifer fell for his charms when they skated together last year and they are still together now.
"But that hasn't stopped producers wanting to recreate some of that sexual energy this year.
"Heidi is one of the most popular girls due to take part in the show and is single again after splitting from Dave Berry.
"Who knows what might happen between them? Jennifer had better keep an eye on them just in case."
Celebrities believed to be lined up for the new series include Jennifer Ellison, another former Hollyoaks star, American actor Corey Feldman, singer Chesney Hawkes and exercise guru Rosemary Conley.
