Jason Gardiner worked alongside presenter Holly Willoughby, 42, on Dancing On Ice from the show’s launch in 2006 and said the pair were on “friendly terms” before he quit the programme in 2019.
The 51-year-old claimed when he quit the ITV show, with the exception of Ashley Banjo, Holly and members of the cast failed to get in touch with him.
In a new interview, Jason said he and Holly would often have a giggle and joke together but things changed during the final series of the show.
He said: “When we started out she was very friendly, didn’t have anyone working with her.
“But on the last series I was on she had a team of about eight people in an entourage following everywhere she went. She became ‘Brand Holly’.
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“I didn’t know her any more.”
The former ITV judge went on to say the pair were very “friendly” together behind the scenes during his time on the show and added they had a “good rapport”.
But during his final series in 2019, he said Holly didn’t ask him how he was doing and he felt let down.
Express.co.uk have approached Holly Willoughby’s representatives for comment.
Four years ago Jason announced his departure from the ice skating series saying at the time he went through some “controversies” on the show.
His statement read: “After all these years I feel it’s time for me to say goodbye to my judging role and return to things I have been putting on hold and have been on the back burner for a while,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.
“To all of my DOI fans I really thank you for your support and encouragement over the years, I know we’ve gone through some controversies and I’m glad you got my unique judging style and honestly.”
Jason was replaced by John Barrowman with Oti Mabuse joining the judging panel last year following the actor’s departure.
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