The three remaining Dancing on Ice contestants were putting themselves through their final paces tonight ahead of Sunday's finale as controversy erupted over hot favourite Chris Fountain's "unfair advantage".

Fountain has been attacked by judge Jason Gardiner who told the Hollyoaks actor he had an advantage over his rivals because he has years of skating experience after playing ice hockey.

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Hot favourite Chris Fountain and partner Frankie Poultney practise their uplifting routine in rehearsals today

Gardiner said he was head and shoulders above the competition: "He does have an unfair advantage, because he is able to skate.

"He doesn't have that fear that the girls have had to overcome."

But Fountain insisted his background does not give him an unfair advantage.

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Unfair advantage: Judge Jason Gardiner says Hollyoaks actor Chris Fountain and partner Frankie Poultney are head and shoulders above the rest

Fred Palascak sweeps Zaraah Abrahams off her feet during the rehearsal

Suzanne Shaw and Matt Evers show the competition how it's done

Despite the claim, Gardiner's remarks didn't seem to worry the celebrity trio spent today jumping, dancing and whizzing their way around the skating ring.

Fountain, who faces Waterloo Road actress Zaraah Abrahams and former HearSay star Suzanne Shaw in the finale, is many viewers' favourite to win.

Bookies have him at 1/5 favourite to win (he's been top-ranking all the way through).

But while his success on the reality show has been overcast by doubts concerning the fairness of his prior experience, the soap star claimed he had been pushed just as hard as his rivals.

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Modest: Dancing On Ice favourite Chris Fountain with his finale rivals Suzanne Shaw (left) and Zaraah Abrahams (right) at a press conference yesterday

Speaking at ITV's Television Centre in London, the 20-year-old said: "I suppose it gave me a general awareness of the ice, but I still don't think I would have been scared to fall over because that's just the type of person I am - I throw myself into anything.

"I think I've tried some really difficult stuff and I don't feel like I've pushed myself less than anybody else.

"I don't feel like I've sat back on my experience and gone, 'I can do an easy routine and just sail my way through'."

The three celebrities have done some 600 hours of skating since training began in October last year, and both Shaw and Abrahams have been among the walking wounded - with Abrahams only stepping in for Michael Underwood in week three when the TV presenter broke a bone in his leg.

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Judge Jason Gardiner, Suzanne, Chris, Zaraah and Nicky Slater yesterday

While judges Gardiner and Nicky Slater expressed hopes for another step up in the standard of skating next series, questions were raised that by pushing themselves too hard, contestants were putting themselves at ever-greater risk.

But 26-year-old Shaw - who suffered several injuries including cracked ribs and a chipped ankle bone, which she said was safe for the final - rebuffed the idea, saying: "I think everyone's aware of how far they can push themselves.

"I know when to stop and I'm not stupid that I'll take it too far; that I will break something."

Abrahams, who turns 26 this month, said part of her would be skating for fallen Underwood.

"They (Underwood and dance partner Melanie Lambert) often come down to our training and they get us going. They're so proud and we're so proud because we've done so well for them - we've got them into the final."

• The Dancing On Ice final airs on Sunday March 16 on ITV1 at 7pm.