Dancing On Ice star Gareth Thomas still not recovered from illness that led him to withdraw from the competition

Gareth Thomas Age: 38 Skating with: Robin Johnstone. Famous for: Coming out as gay in 2009 in an attempt to highlight the homophobia he claimed was rampant in spo (PA)

Dancing on Ice contestant Gareth Thomas has still not recovered after quitting the skating show last night complaining of feeling sick and dizzy.

The former rugby player withdrew from the hit ITV show last night after he could only perform one of his two planned routines with partner Robin Johnstone, forcing bosses to scrap the usual viewers' vote.

This Morning host Phillip Schofield said Thomas was too ill to make a planned appearance on today's show.

He said: "We hoped, obviously, that he'd be here this morning, but he has gone to see his doctor so he can't be here.

"But he tweeted us earlier saying 'I hope I can come in this week. Off to the doctors' so he's feeling better today I think, but what a shocker."

Schofield, who also presents Dancing on Ice, said: "You can tell when you look at someone and think 'he's on the brink of fainting' or that certainly something is not right, and as I said before, he's a big guy, if he was to go down none of us would be able to stop him hitting the deck."

Viewers wanting a refund for their phone vote were told to check the Dancing On Ice website for details.

Thomas's withdrawal meant the three remaining celebrities - EastEnders actor Matt Lapinskas, boxer Luke Campbell and gymnast Beth Tweddle - progress.

Lapinskas said of the poorly Thomas: "He is my brother and I love him to pieces."

Thomas, bursting out of his lycra dancing costume, scored 33.5 out of 40 for his first spin round the rink with Johnstone.

Despite feeling sick, the Welshman finished his first dance, to Coldplay's Viva La Vida, and won praise from judge Ashley Roberts, the former Pussycat Doll, with her applauding his "transformation" during the course of the show.

Despite the encouragement, he left the stage unable to talk. He saw a doctor, and supported by his mother, the decision was taken to withdraw him from the competition.

It was Lapinskas and his partner Brianne Delcourt who most wowed the judges last night.

Performing to Straighten Up And Fly Right by Robbie Williams, the pair scored 39 out of 40.

They then equalled that with their final dance, to Michael Jackson's Bad, which brought a full top marks from Jason Gardiner, the notoriously hard-to-please judge.

Viewers keen to find out details of phone vote refunds should go to www.itv.com/dancingonice

PA