Revealed: Extraordinary behind-the-scenes bitching among Dancing On Ice stars

Towering egos and rivalries have triggered several heated bust-ups, according to insiders.

Three of the 12 celebrity contestants, Linda Lusardi, Aggie Mackenzie and Suzanne Shaw, have apparently fallen out.

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And new judge, West End star Ruthie Henshall, is already clashing with the rest of the panel.

Producers have been accused of cranking up the tension to boost ratings on the ITV show, which began on January 13.

A backstage source claimed that singer-turned-actress Miss Shaw, 26, said former Page 3 model Miss Lusardi, 49, was there "to be the eye-candy".

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"There have been some cutting exchanges with Suzanne saying how tarty Linda is styled, and the fact that her costumes plunge down at the bust," said the source.

She has also been rowing with TV cleaning guru Miss Mackenzie, 52.

"Aggie thinks Suzanne if taking it all too seriously. Aggie is just having a laugh with it all, but Suzanne rather desperately sees this as a way to kick start her career."

The nastiness is not confined to the girls, with singer Gareth Gates, 23, said to be annoying his male counterparts with his "cocksure attitude".

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But the infighting is not restricted to the contestants. The introduction of Miss Henshall, 40, has put the other judges' noses out of joint, particularly that of theatre producer Jason Gardiner, 36.

The source said that producers are making the most of it.

"In the intervals, producers will actually be winding them up saying 'I can't believe Ruthie said this and that - it was obviously a barbed comment directed at you'."

There are also concerns that it is only a matter of time until there is a serious injury.

However an ITV spokesman denied the claims about back-biting, and the producers' antics.

He said: "This is ridiculous playground gossip and is far from the truth."

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Miss Shaw was left bruised and bloodied in rehearsals after her head caught on partner Matt Evers' skate.

But she recovered in time to participate in last night's show, which saw TV and radio presenter Natalie Pinkham become the second contestant to be booted off after a "disappointing" performance.

Meanwhile, Ms Pinkham became the second contestant to be booted off the show after

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Pinkham, 29, found herself in the bottom two after the public vote, alongside former Blue Peter presenter Tim Vincent.

Judges on the ITV show chose to save Vincent, despite a mistake early on in his performance to Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by the Police.

They told her: "Your arms are like an old-fashioned scale, always tipping off-balance, and I found that with the lift, if it wasn't for Andre's strength you wouldn't have been up there.

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"It looks like someone has velcro-ed you on to him."

A disappointed Natalie said: "Honestly I've had the best time. The guys are the best and everyone says it but its true."

Pinkham received a total score of 14 points from the judges for her dance with partner Andre.

TV presenter Sarah Greene was the first evictee last week.