ITV Ends ‘Dancing on Ice’ Run: Holly Willoughby’s Future on the Network in Question
Holly Willoughby has reportedly experienced a significant setback after her most recent ITV television contract concluded amidst news that Dancing on Ice, the long-running skating competition, will not be returning. The network confirmed the cancellation of the popular show, which has been a fixture for 19 years, leaving presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern without their roles on the programme often seen as a rival to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. This decision by ITV follows Willoughby’s departure from ‘This Morning’ in 2023, seemingly marking the end of an era for her association with the broadcaster.
Holly Willoughby’s Extensive ITV History
Prior to recent events, Willoughby maintained a prominent presence on ITV. She last appeared on ‘Celebrity Juice’ on ITV2 in 2020, and her involvement with the revived ‘Surprise, Surprise’ concluded in 2015. Furthermore, she briefly hosted ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ for a single season and presented various other programmes, including ‘Text Santa’, ‘The Xtra Factor’, and two special editions of the game show ‘You Bet!’ in 2024.
‘Dancing on Ice’ Cancellation Confirmed by ITV
An ITV representative has officially announced the cancellation of Dancing on Ice, citing a decline in viewership to below 3 million in 2025. This announcement comes alongside the previously declared retirement of judges Torvill and Dean, who intend to retire from skating following their final tour in May.
Official Statement from ITV
In a released statement, an ITV spokesperson stated: “Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026, and there are no current plans for future series.”
The statement continued: “We extend our gratitude to the entire cast and crew who have contributed to the show since 2006, and throughout the past 17 series, for their dedicated efforts both on and off the ice.” Reports indicate that the set for Dancing on Ice is currently being dismantled and placed into storage for an indefinite period.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Netflix Venture ‘Celebrity Bear Hunt’ Reportedly Underperforms
Amidst these developments, Holly Willoughby secured a position alongside Bear Grylls in the Netflix series ‘Celebrity Bear Hunt’. However, a source within Netflix informed Express.co.uk that the programme has been deemed a “flop” due to a perceived lack of international recognition for Holly Willoughby.
Concerns over International Stardom
The source elaborated: “Netflix executives held high expectations for ‘Celebrity Bear Hunt’ to achieve significant success. Unfortunately, despite considerable financial investment, the series has underperformed.”
“Internally, discussions are focusing on assigning responsibility, with blame being directed towards the casting decision to feature Holly Willoughby as the host. While she is widely recognised in the UK, her profile is considerably lower outside of Great Britain,” the insider added.