19 February 2023 , 22:54
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Dancing on Ice fans were not pleased with the ITV competition when the celebrity skating show appeared to be halted by a breaking news bulletin.
The skit, which was part of Mollie Gallagher and Sylvain Longchambon's Ghostbusters performance, was branded as "insensitive" amid the ongoing investigation into the search for missing mum Nicola Bulley.
ITV viewers watched a fake breaking news report by ITV newsreader Lucrezia Millarini, who took part in Dancing on Ice in 2020.
As the ITV News title played in the middle of the show, Lucrezia said: "We interrupt this programme with news of a sudden rise in supernatural sightings. The cause of the outbreak is currently unknown but we're assured experts have arrived to deal with the issue," before it cut to the performance.
Many fans of the skating show initially thought the announcement was real and took to Twitter to complain following the latest development that a body has been found close to where Nicola vanished over three weeks ago.
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Mollie Gallagher and Sylvain Longchambon's were performing a Ghostbusters skate (Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)One complained: "That was a bit stupid #dancingonice. Having a newsflash at this moment in time. Thought it was about Nicola Bulley," while another viewer said: "I thought that ITV news interruption was about Nicola Bulley."
"Bit insensitive of Dancing On Ice to do a 'breaking news' skit when there's major events happening," a third wrote.
Someone else tweeted: "Why did my heart just stop #dancingonice," and another echoed: "Not me getting scared that was a legit breaking news broadcast ffs."
A fake breaking news report by ITV newsreader Lucrezia Millarini interrupted the show (Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Earlier on Sunday, a body was discovered in the River Wyre close to where Nicola disappeared while walking her dog on January 27.
In a statement Lancashire Police said: "This morning, Sunday, 19 February, you may be aware of police activity around the river near to St Michaels.
"We want to provide you with an update on that activity. We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road."
Nicola was last seen walking her dog on January 27 (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)The statement continued: "An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body. No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.
"Procedures to identify the body are on-going. We are currently treating the death as unexplained. "Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected."