Pay me double - or I'll quit: Jason Gardiner is believed to have told Dancing On Ice bosses that if they want him back next year, they'll need to give him a big pay riseHe's made just as many headlines as the contestants with his outspoken and sometime scathing views.
And ITV bosses have cited Jason Gardiner as one of the reasons behind this season's high ratings, as viewers tune in hoping he will get into a row with a contestant, their friends and family, or one of his fellow judges.
But Gardiner, 39, is believed to have given the show's bosses and ultimatum and has demanded they pay him double his pay - or he'll walk.
The Australian choreographer, who is paid £100,000 to be a judge, wants double that to return to the panel next year, according to the People.
He said: 'I AM that show. Without me it is dull. I know they want me on the next series but they are going to have to pay what I’m worth.'
And yesterday a source on the show, which has pulled in an average of seven million viewers every week this series, said: 'ITV will pull out all the stops to keep Jason. He’s driven the show more than ever this series.
'His run-ins with Karen Barber and Tim Healy have been the most talked about episodes. Viewers may not always like what he says, but they also want to hear his opinions.
You're opinions don't matter: Gardiner reduced head coach Karen Barber ot tears after they got into a row after he gave low points to contestant Johnson Beharry VC'The top brass realise they need to start talking about Jason’s future here. Money will be an issue. It now all depends on whether there is enough dough in the budget to complete the sort of deal we know Jason is after.'
But according to the Daily Star Sunday, Gardiner will be getting £135,000 next year, which will making him the highest paid judge.
he has hit the headlines this season after a run-in with head coach Karen Barber, who he left 'inconsolable' after telling her opinions 'did not matter'.
He hit out at Tim Healy, husband of departing skater Denise Welch, after he confronted him at the judges desk berating him for his critical comments about his wife.
Gardiner turned his head away and later took to his Twitter page and wrote that Healy stank of ‘stale p*** and alcohol’.
Listen, pal: Gardiner got a ticking off from Denise Welch's partner Tim Healy - but waved the actor away and said 'Oh my God, your breath!'
source:dailymail