Dancing On Ice followers give verdict on new host Stephen Mulhern

Dancing On Ice viewers praised Stephen Mulhern for his debut efficiency as common co-host alongside Holly Willoughby because the 2024 sequence launched on Sunday night time.

The tv presenter, 46, signed up for the position after Phillip Schofield stepped down from all his on-screen appointments when he stop This Morning and admitted he’d had an affair with a youthful colleague final yr.

Holly, 42, who herself stop This Morning in October final yr dazzled in a silver strappy gown as she made her return to tv on the weekend, welcoming her new co-host Stephen to the present.

She instructed ITV viewers: ‘We are off!’, earlier than asking followers to provide her new co-host a heat reception, including: ‘And can also we simply say an enormous welcome to Stephen Mulhern!’

Fans of the present took to social media to reward the pair, with many crediting Stephen for bringing ‘recent power’ and injecting ‘some actual enjoyable’ into the episode. 

One particular person wrote on Twitter: ‘Enjoyed Stephen Mulhern as a presenter on #DancingOnIce alongside Holly. Brought some recent power to the present!’

While another person shared: ‘Great to see Holly again and the present that retains on giving the improbable Stephen Mulheron. He’s introduced extra life again into the presenting of this present than ever earlier than.’

‘For the primary time in years I’ve really loved #DancingOnIce! Stephen and Holly work nicely collectively and a few of the skaters have actual potential,’ posted another person.

And one other viewer wrote: ‘Stephen and Holly have been superb. Injected some actual enjoyable, weekend mild leisure vibes again into the present.’

Someone else shared: ‘So good to see Holly and Stephen again collectively once more presenting #DancingOnIce. People are all the time gonna have their very own opinions however personally I like them each, brings again recollections of watching MoM as a child. Just want the haters would wheesht.’

Referring to noughties TV present Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown, also referred to as Ministry of Mayhem and MoM, another person wrote: ‘Tell you what. Holly and Stephen have purchased the enjoyable again that that they had on MOM. You can inform they’re good associates.’

While another person commented: ‘People hate on Stephen however he is bringing the enjoyable to the present that was missing with Phil and Holly seems to be extra relaxed.’

Comparing the pair’s on-screen relationship to that of Holly and former co-host Phil, another person remarked: ‘Holly is prospering with out Pip Schofield. I really feel like she’s capable of have enjoyable with Stephen and so they simply work collectively. She’s additionally given a chance to talk quite than being spoken over consistently like he use to do.’

While one other viewer famous: ‘Holly is a lot better with Stephen Mulhern. She can really converse for a begin.’

However, not everybody was impressed, with one particular person writing: ‘Holly and Stephen are attempting too laborious. it is cringe.’

‘I like #DancingOnIce I actually do, however this complete Stephen and Holly presenting feels too pressured,’ wrote one other viewer.

While another person posted: ‘I let you know what as nicely I assumed Stephen and Holly have been alleged to be outdated mates or no matter?!! It’s not giving… chemistry?’ 

Stephen confirmed he was in talks to affix Dancing On Ice as a number in October final yr.

He instructed MailOnline on the time that he thought it will be ‘superb’ to entrance the present after he offered ITV2 spin-off sequence Defrosted for a yr again in 2006.

Stephen additionally stood in for former Dancing On Ice presenter Phillip Schofield, 61, when he fell unwell with Covid in 2022.

It reveals he’s lastly being observed by ITV bosses who’ve usually given him the position of ‘spin-off’ presenter however now as he hosts Catchphrase and the Deal or Deal No reboot, Stephen is rapidly turning into a severe primetime contender.

He stated in October earlier than his DOI position was formally confirmed: ‘I used to do the spin-off present Defrosted and once I stood in for Phil when he wasn’t too nicely, he had Covid, I actually loved it and it was so beautiful being again with Holly.

‘We had a good time collectively plus numerous the group have been the identical from once I did the ITV2 present.

‘We are speaking about it, however I promise you now that nothing is confirmed but when it occurs, it is going to be completely superb… if it would not, look, it would not. I promise you I’d let you know if we had it confirmed at this level.

‘The lineup is one of the best it has been in just a few years… I’m maintaining throughout the lineup, simply in case… It is a large staple, and it has been round.’

Having hosted Dancing On Ice with Holly for the previous 12 sequence, Phil will now not be concerned with the programme after being axed from all his roles on ITV earlier this yr.

The channel fired Phil after he admitted to mendacity a couple of romantic relationship he had with a former youthful colleague, instantly ending his contract at This Morning.

It has since been speculated that Phil may come again to tv however as a contestant on the brand new Celebrity Big Brother, which will likely be returning to screens this yr.

Holly and Stephen first labored collectively on CITV present Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown, initially Ministry Of Mayhem, from January 2004.

After their self-titled present completed in 2006, Stephen and Holly’s appearances collectively on tv turned rather more few and far-between, however they remained shut.

In 2014, Stephen lifted the lid on his shut decade-long friendship along with his former co-presenter in an interview with The Sun.

The Catchphrase star revealed he goes to Holly for recommendation if he is received an issue and he praised her as a ‘correct mate’.

He instructed the publication: ‘Ant and Dec, Emma Willis and Holly Willoughby are correct mates. But that is about it.

‘If I had an issue I’d go to Holly, and if I need recommendation that is unnecessary and possibly makes issues worse, I’ll ask Ant and Dec.’

In the years since, the pair have sometimes crossed paths on reveals similar to Celebrity Juice, This Morning and Dancing On Ice.

Although the pair are solely formally beginning because the present’s co-hosts in January, they appeared collectively final yr as a result of standard host Phillip Schofield was having to isolate with Covid.

The now-46-year-old requested Holly in that episode: ‘Can you consider it is 16 years since we labored collectively on children TV?’

She replied: ‘I do know! We’re grownups now!’

Last month, it was revealed Holly can be making her TV return with the particular person it began with 20 years earlier – with herself and Stephen internet hosting the brand new sequence of Dancing On Ice.

While Stephen’s look to cowl for a Covid-stricken Phil in 2022 was a one-off, Holly has been within the position for almost all of the present’s existence.

Holly co-hosted the present with Schofield from its inception in 2006 till 2011.

Christine Lampard then changed Holly for the following three sequence till the present resulted in 2014, however she returned for its 2018 revival and has remained in publish ever since.

Dancing On Ice continues on Sunday 21 January at 6.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.