[Red Moon]

Jason called me Mr Potatohead ... he set a bad example to kids

SEETHING Ellery Hanley has launched a tirade at Dancing On Ice bitch Jason Gardiner after the judge branded him Mr Potatohead on Sunday’s show.

Bald Ellery, 47 — voted out after falling in a skate-off — was disgusted at Jason’s attack on his appearance and said his vindictive nature set a bad example to kids.

He told TV Biz: “If you use the word potato then that’s a personal attack and there’s no need for it. It shows that you don’t have much integrity within yourself as a human being if you can do that.

“In a privileged position like Jason there is constructive criticism or there’s damn right rudeness and not having respect.

“It’s such a beautiful show and I don’t think he sets the correct example. It needs addressing.”

Earlier in Sunday’s show, which saw former Page 3 Girl Melinda Messenger survive the skate-off with Ellery, Jason also told babe Roxanne Pallett, 26, she had “as much charisma as a Cabbage Patch Doll”.

The judge landed in hot water earlier in the series when he told Todd Carty he looked like he had “cra**ed himself” when he skated and warned him he was in danger of leaving the show in a body bag.

ITV bosses made Jason apologise but Ellery reckons the judge has become worse and that his bullying had gone beyond playing the pantomime villain.

And he confided Jason’s jibes were so barbed he felt protective over his fellow celebrities, particularly the women.

He said: “When he said that about Todd I was sitting with the celebrities and the professional skaters and everyone was completely disgusted.

I’m used to being verbally abused by away spectators, so I have become mentally strong and those kinds of comments don’t get to me.

“But many of the others don’t have that experience and are upset by the things he says. I feel protective towards them.”

But the rugby star said he felt no need to personally tackle Jason.

He said: “I’ll never stoop to his level. I’ll turn the other cheek, walk away and let him make a fool of himself.”

ELLERY Hanley has reason to be happy despite being booted off the show — fellow contestant Donal MacIntyre has asked him to be his daughter’s godfather.

The rugby ace beamed: “That means more to me than anything else on the show. I was melted away by that — really choked.”

Source: The Sun