Joey Essex says there was blood 'everywhere' after Dancing On Ice injury

Watch: Joey Essex says there was 'blood everywhere' after Dancing On Ice injury

Joey Essex has said "blood was everywhere" when he skated over his finger as he prepared for Dancing On Ice.

The Only Way Is Essex star is one of the contestants on the upcoming series of the ice-skating competition, which starts this weekend.

But during an appearance on This Morning he admitted he'd had his share of injuries as he rehearsed, including a badly cut finger.

Read more: Christopher Dean breaks a finger days before start of Dancing On Ice

"It was actually the first day of meeting the guys," he said.

"It was a bit of a disaster to be honest. I went backwards over my finger.

"We were actually talking about losing my finger at that moment in time."

Essex said the cameras weren't rolling at the time and his skate was over, but he skated off and ended up going over his finger.

"Blood was everywhere," he said.

"It was awful. They were going to get a stretcher and all that but I said I was alright.

"I didn't get that upset, maybe a little bit."

Essex, who is paired with pro skater Vanessa Bauer on the ice, said he is now feeling set for the competition.

"I nearly lost a finger, I nearly lost a kneecap, a shoulder and now I'm on the ice and I feel ready," he said.

"There is room for improvement always, but yes, we are all doing sick."

Dancing On Ice will see Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean returning to the judging panel alongside former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse and Diversity's Ashley Banjo.

Read more: Dancing On Ice 2023: When does it start and who's in the cast?

The series – hosted again by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield – will see stars including Patsy Palmer, John Fashanu, Michelle Heaton and Siva Kaneswaran taking to the ice.

Watch: Joey Essex proves how long he can hold his breath