{"id":38434,"date":"2023-10-22T11:34:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-22T09:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1912382"},"modified":"2023-10-22T15:47:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T13:47:27","slug":"dancing-on-ice-professional-matt-evers-confirms-exit-after-17-years","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/dancing-on-ice-professional-matt-evers-confirms-exit-after-17-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Dancing on Ice professional Matt Evers confirms exit after 17 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

The American skater will not be taking part in the 2024 series. <\/p>

By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 22 October 2023 at 09:34 AM<\/p>

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Matt Evers has announced that he will be stepping down from his role as a professional skater on Dancing on Ice after 17 years.<\/p>\n

Evers has been involved with the reality series since it first started in 2006 \u2013 winning the 2008 series with Suzanne Shaw and reaching the final on a further three occasions \u2013 but will now be departing ahead of the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

The American skater made the announcement in a video he posted on his Instagram<\/a> account, which he began: \u201cCome on, I\u2019ve got something to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on: \u201cWell, I knew this day would eventually come, and it\u2019s here. After 15 UK series and one Australian series, I just wanted to let you guys know that I am not going to be skating on this year\u2019s series of Dancing on Ice and might be finally time to hang up those ice skates for once and all.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that \u201cthe past few months haven\u2019t been easy, to say the least\u201d and that navigating a new world and finding his feet outside of the ice has been tough, but \u201cgiven my competitive nature and my tenacity, everything\u2019s gonna be OK.\u201d<\/p>

He went on to thank the fans of the show, saying: \u201cWow \u2013 2006 we first came on the air and y\u2019all haven\u2019t left us since. We\u2019ve grown up, we\u2019ve grown old together, we\u2019ve been through the good, we\u2019ve been through the bad, we\u2019ve been through the ugly. and even a pandemic together\u2026thank you for your unending support.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his time on the show, Evers was partnered with an array of famous faces from Doctor Who star Bonnie Langford to TOWIE\u2019s Gemma Collins, while he was also part of the show\u2019s first same-sex partnership with Steps member Ian \u2018H\u2019 Watkins.<\/p>\n

And during his video he thanked all of his partners from over the years, explaining: \u201cI have loved every single series spending time with you on and off the ice. And I may have taught you how to skate but individually you did teach me something about myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cTo Torvill and Dean, thank you for your gift. I mean they say don\u2019t become friends with your heroes because it\u2019s not always a good thing but I will take your kindness and inspiration with me forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, he also thanked \u201call of the ITV crew and production past and present\u201d and paid particular tribute to the \u201cglam squad\u201d who he said he was going to miss \u201cthe most.\u201d<\/p>\n

He ended his statement by saying he didn\u2019t know what was next but added: \u201cThis isn\u2019t goodbye because goodbyes give me anxiety. Let\u2019s just say this is an \u2018I\u2019ll see you soon\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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