Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Holly Willoughby Addresses Dancing on Ice Cancellation After ITV Confirms Hiatus
Following ITV’s announcement that the popular series Dancing on Ice will not return in 2026, presenter Holly Willoughby has responded on social media. The broadcaster confirmed on Thursday that the long-running ice skating competition has been shelved after nineteen seasons, citing a decline in viewing figures. Executives reportedly considered the programme’s future before deciding to put it on hold for a second time. Willoughby initially co-hosted the show with Phillip Schofield until his departure in 2023, when Stephen Mulhern took over for the most recent series.
Holly Willoughby’s Sentiments on Instagram
Taking to Instagram, Willoughby shared her feelings, posting: “A huge thank you to @itv, the incredible team, crew, celebrities, and everyone who has been part of our Dancing on Ice family for the past 19 years. Every year, just as January felt its bleakest, Dancing on Ice arrived like a radiant burst of light, warm, joyful, and heartfelt.”
“It has been an absolute honour to collaborate with true national icons Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, witnessing their breathtaking skating from the best seat in the house. Watching them glide across the ice was truly magical.”
She also added a touch of humour, “Special thanks must also go to Arnica, Deep Heat, Spanx, and Fake Tan, the unsung heroes of the rink! … I will miss it deeply, but I feel so fortunate to have been a part of it for so long. Finally, and most importantly, thank you to you for watching, you’re the BEST!”
Phillip Schofield’s Absence from Willoughby’s Statement
Notably, Willoughby’s statement on Instagram did not mention Phillip Schofield, despite their 13-year partnership on Dancing on Ice. The show, a fixture on ITV since 2006, previously went on hiatus in 2014 before its return four years later.
Torvill and Dean’s Retirement Announcement
Speculation regarding the show’s future intensified after Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who serve as judges, indicated their retirement from live skating performances during the last series finale.
The pair officially retired from competitive ice skating in 1998, having earned 16 gold medals at various international events, including their memorable gold at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics.
Prior to the 2025 series, Torvill and Dean announced that it would be their final year of live skating. According to reports, Christopher Dean stated, “This will be our last live skate – here on ‘Dancing on Ice‘. We’re also doing our final tour this year, so once we’ve completed our last skate on tour, we will no longer be performing. There are many endings.”
Impact on Presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern
The cancellation of Dancing on Ice is a significant setback for Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, leaving them without their presenting roles on the show. Willoughby stepped down from her position on ITV’s This Morning in 2023, and her last appearance on ITV2’s Celebrity Juice was in 2020. She briefly appeared as a guest host on one series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! and has also presented programmes such as Text Santa and The Xtra Factor.
ITV’s Official Statement
An ITV spokesperson confirmed the news: “Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026, and there are no current plans for another series.”
“We would like to express our gratitude to all the cast and crew who have contributed to the show since 2006, and across the previous 17 series, for their dedication both on and off the ice.”