Family friend: Karen has been comforting Christopher.
Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner further fuelled rumours about co-stars Christopher Dean and Karen Barber. He said: “There is no smoke without fire, is there?"
Christopher, 51, has confirmed that he has split from wife Jill after 16 years.
Rumours of an affair began when Karen stayed with Christopher – who dances with Jayne Torvill – at his house.
Karen’s husband Stephen Pickavance works as a trainer on Dancing on Ice.
Jason told The Sun: "That little minx! Her husband's a coach on the show. I'd heard talk but I couldn't say either way.
"All I know is that she is very much there for Torvill and Dean, probably above and beyond what you'd consider normal.”
It is claimed that Karen has been helping Christopher through his separation, with her spokesman saying over the weekend that suggestions of a romantic link were 'nuts', adding: “They have been family friends for years.”
