ITV's popular ice-skate show, Dancing on Ice, finds itself at the center of attention this week, following unexpected events during the semi-finals and exciting updates from its star judges. Last night, hosts Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern issued public apologies when judge Christopher Dean accidentally dropped an F-bomb live on air.
The incident occurred after Coronation Street star Sam Aston and his dance partner Molly Lanaghan completed their impressive routine. While announcing their scores, Judge Dean, alongside co-judges Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo, praised their performance by awarding them a perfect score of ten. Jayne Torvill, on the other hand, gave Aston and Lanaghan a score of 9.5.
Facing the camera, Christopher Dean exclaimed, "Oh f**king heck, I forgot to put [the score] in," moments after the performance, admitting he got caught up with the excitement. Realizing his gaffe, Dean quickly added, "I got so excited with your performance, I forgot to give you a mark." This light-hearted mistake led to immediate apologies from hosts Willoughby and Mulhern, capturing viewers' attention.
The dance duo, Sam Aston and Molly Lanaghan, have secured their spot for the upcoming final alongside fellow contestants Michaela Strachan with partner Mark Hanretty and Anton Ferdinand paired with Annette Dytrt. The show, now approaching its climax, has garnered significant attention. Earlier this week, former contestant Dan Edgar was voted off Dancing on Ice after competing against Ferdinand, reflecting positively, stating, "I've had an amazing experience. I'm very grateful for it. I feel like we've done our best tonight, so I'll walk away with my head held high."
Meanwhile, the future of Dancing on Ice seems to hang by a thread. Following nearly 20 years of success, there are concerns about declining viewer numbers. Reports indicate fears from sources close to the show about whether the latest series could be its last. A spokesperson told the Mirror, "We need bums on seats, but the ratings have dropped to a point where it’s difficult to justify the cost." The show debuted back in 2006, concluding after its ninth series but made its return four years later, capturing the hearts of viewers once more.
This series has not been without its challenges, particularly with diminishing ratings. The first episode of the current season drew only 2.9 million viewers, significantly down from last year’s 3.6 million.
Adding to the speculation surrounding the show’s future, judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean confirmed on Good Morning Britain on March 4th they will bid farewell after their final performance during this season’s finale. Torvill expressed, “The final on Sunday will be our last performance on Dancing on Ice. Then we go on tour, and they will be our last performances, we end in Nottingham on July 12.”
Christopher, addressing the toll skating has taken on their bodies shared, "You have to be very disciplined every day, looking after yourself nutrition-wise and health-wise, I guess we’re ready for a bit of a break.”
The duo, who have skated together for fifty years, reflected on their time together saying, "50 years is a great number to say we’ve been skating together. I don’t think there are many partnerships who can say they’ve been together for 50 years.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the show's future, viewers will still anticipate the crowning of this year’s champion. With such anticipation, the grand finale is scheduled for March 9th, 2025, where either Anton Ferdinand, Michaela Strachan, or Sam Aston will take home the title.
Lastly, there remains obvious support for the show within its loyal audience. While some speculate the end of Dancing on Ice could be near, the network remains focused on delivering the best finale possible. An ITV spokesperson emphasized they’re concentrating on the much-anticipated series finale.
With anticipation building, it will not be long before the fate of Dancing on Ice is determined as it approaches what could be its final performances. Viewers everywhere will be tuning in to honor the show’s legacy, celebrate its past, and appreciate the thrilling performances leading up to this potentially definitive conclusion.