Katona 'needed counselling' after Ice judge's barbs

Kerry Katona turned to counselling after receiving criticism from Jason Gardiner on 'Dancing On Ice'.

The 30-year-old contestant says the "a***wipe" judge's comments have been so "hurtful" on the ITV1 ice skating show she had to talk to psychologists to get over them.

Tough-talking Jason - who earlier this week caused more than 3,500 viewers to call for his sacking after making barbed comments to head coach Karen Barber - has made a series of jibes towards Kerry, including calling her "dependent" on her ice skating partner Dan Whiston two weeks ago.

The blonde star said: "Jason's comments really played on my mind. I'm stronger than I was but I'm on a journey.

"I went to see (psychologists) Nik and Eva (Speakman) after the show that week. They really helped. A lot of how I was feeling was because of how Jason put me down on TV."

She added: "I try not to give a s**t about his comments anymore because they are so personal and so hurtful. Jason is an a***wipe. But I'm still a very fragile person. I take it to heart."

Kerry is now backing those who think 45-year-old Jason should be fired - and thinks dance expert Louie Spence should be hired in his place instead.

She told The News Of The World: "At first I thought it was a bit of a pantomime with Jason - but it is as real as it gets. It's so hurtful. He gets far too personal. It can knock you massively.

"All I can say is bring Louie on in Jason's place. He would make his criticism funny, not personal."

Jason sparked fury after telling ice-skating expert Karen, 49 - who was dropped from the judging panel for this series - her opinions didn't matter as they argued over war hero Johnson Beharry's performance.

At one point he told her: "If your opinion still mattered you'd be on the panel."