couldn’t resist teasing after he tried to kiss Vanessa Bauer on.
The presenter chatted to the reality star and his skating pro partner on of the celebrity competition following their High School Musical routine.
Joey channeled ’s Troy Bolton while Vanessa played Vanessa Hudgens’ character Gabriella Montez as the pair skated to Breaking Free from the hit film.
At the end of their performance, Joey leaned in to try to kiss Vanessa, but she quickly pulled away to avoid the move and started giggling.
‘Nearly a little peck at the end there,’ Phil quipped after their skate, while Joey cheekily added: ‘Nearly. Our first kiss on live TV.’
Viewers were left confused and cringing over the exchange, which comes as the couple have sparked romance rumours during their time on the show.
‘Idk whats really going on with joey and Vanessa but cringing at him trying to kiss Vanessa,’ wrote one viewer as another added: ‘Joey attempting to kiss Vanessa was very cringe #dancingonice.’
A third person tweeted: ‘Joey kissing Vanessa was awkward,’ while yet another shared some crying emojis and said: ‘As if Joey just tried to kiss Vanessa and she pulled away’.
During a recent chat on Good Morning Britain, Joey wasand insisted he was ‘open’ and would happily ‘answer’ questions.
‘I’m single, Vanessa is single, you know. We go to the ice every day, it’s cold, got to keep each other warm… do you know what I mean? So that’s it really… yeah, it’s all good,’ he said.
GMB host Susanna Reid responded: ‘Hold on, it sounds like you’re not single and she’s not single? It sounds like you’re both together?’
‘No comment, can’t confirm but we are both single, right now, we’re taking it slowly, it’s all good,’ he quickly replied, adding: ‘I am confirming nothing!’
However, he sweetly added: ‘Of course I do [have a soft spot], who wouldn’t? Vanessa is lovely!’
Dancing On Ice airs Sundays at 6.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
