Dancing on Ice’s future is REVEALED following axe rumours

Dancing On Ice has been axed, with no plans for a new series in 2026, ITV have revealed in a new statement.

Following the final earlier this month, rumours had been swirling that the skating show was facing the axe, after staff reportedly told that their work on the show was over.

In a statement shared with MailOnline, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series.

‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the cast and crew who have worked on the show since 2006, and over the previous 17 series, for all of their hard work both on and off the ice.’

Since its inception in 2006, over 200 celebrities have competed on Dancing On Ice, with approximately 100 versions of the iconic Bolero costume made for stars who performance Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s famous skae.

Last week, it was reported that the show’s set was already being dismantled, in a move that was described as the ‘final nail in the coffin.’

The source had previously claimed that casting usually begins in April with the cast announced in June, but ‘nothing’ had happened so far. 

‘The staff have been told that the set is going into long-term storage and everyone thinks this is the final nail in the coffin,’ they claimed.

‘Nobody’s heard anything about the show next year and casting for the show usually starts next month, with the cast confirmed in June.

‘At this stage bosses are normally approaching celebs and auditioning them – but there’s nothing, and with the set being dismantled, this can’t be a good sign.’

Dancing On Ice pulled in its lowest ever viewing figures in show history during its 2025 finale.

Ratings were the lowest they have ever been after Coronation Street star Sam Aston was crowned winner of the 2025 competition.

Despite the nail-biting final, the show saw just 2.7million viewers tune in – a huge decline at its peak of more than 12million.

The plummeting figures came  after it was reported the show ‘would not be returning’ and staff had ‘already been told’ that their jobs are finished.

A source told The Sun: ‘The staffers on Dancing On Ice are saying the show is over and claim they’ve been told as much.

‘It’s a mainstay of ITV‘s schedule and viewing figures are remarkably less than they were but they still had almost three million watch the launch show.’

The insider claimed that the whole production is ‘expensive’ to make and there is concern as to whether the broadcaster was making any money with the show.

The source also claimed that staffers on the show were ‘not holding out much hope’ for the future of their jobs.

Dancing On Ice is co-hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, although she used to present it with her former This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield.

It debuted on ITV in 2006, and former Coronation Street actress Gaynor Faye – who played Judy Mallett in the 1990s – won the inaugural series.

The format was rested in 2014 but returned to screens four years later, and has been aired in the early months of the year ever since.

MailOnline previously revealed Holly had turned down a lucrative deal with ITV to front a new series of the classic game show You Bet! after finding a global audience on Celebrity Bear Hunt, casting doubt over her future with the channel. 

According to The Sun it was thought that the series could be rested, before being revamped and relaunched at a later date, similar to when the show was axed in 2014.

A source told the publication: ‘Viewing figures are remarkably less than they were but they still had almost three million watch the launch show. There’s no denying, though, that the format has become tired and they’re not getting the big names they once did’.

‘Changes are needed and it’s likely it’ll be rested and given a new lease of life’ but said staff were ‘not holding out much hope’.

The future of Dancing On Ice was thrown into doubt ahead of this series after the head judges Torvill and Dean revealed they are ready to hang up their skates and they performed one last time on Sunday. 

An ITV spokeswoman told the publication: ‘The Dancing on Ice team is fully concentrating on the much anticipated series finale this coming Sunday and therefore no decision has been made.’

Meanwhile ITV insiders said that Holly is ‘busy with other commitments’, which meant she was unable to return to the game show she hosted a two part special last year alongside Stephen.

While it is not yet known what her other role is, she recently found global fame on Netflix‘s Celebrity Bear Hunt – her first big role away from ITV.

Holly impressed bosses at the streaming giant so much that insiders there say they are ‘very keen’ to work with her more on shows which would be screened across the world. 

A source told the Mail: ‘You Bet was so popular with the viewers wished it came back for two shows that ITV bosses decided to give it a full run.

‘Holly and Stephen are a great double act and they were both brilliant so they were asked back.

‘But Holly politely declined, she has other commitments and couldn’t make it work.

‘She is in demand and now she isn’t shackled to This Morning four days a week, she is able to look at more options, some are global.

‘Celebrity Bear Hunt was a huge thing for her, her first role with Netflix and she just loved it and they loved her so there could very well be much more where that came from. 

‘The world is now Holly’s oyster, there are so many opportunities for her.’

Dancing On Ice’s last ever final saw Sam and pro partner Molly Lanaghan were crowned Dancing On Ice‘s 2025 champions after narrowly beating bookies favourite Michaela Strachan.

Anton Ferdinand and pro Annette Dytrt finished in third place before finalists Sam and Michaela battled it out while performing judge Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean‘s iconic Bolero. 

The soap star, 31, was left stunned by the result after the Springwatch host, 58, had been bookies favourite to become the show’s oldest ever winner and first female champion in a whopping 12-years.

Speaking to hosts Holly and Stephen just after his win was announced, Sam said: ‘I’ve literally got no words!’. 

Just moments before, the soap star reflected that it had been ‘such a journey’ for himself and his professional partner.

Gushing: ‘It’s just been such a journey, and a mad one. And was always Molly’s dream to be on this show since watching it as a young girl’.

Throughout it’s 19-year run, Dancing On Ice played host to some of TV’s most shocking moments.

Todd Carty surprised everyone (including himself) when he lost his balance and found himself flying down the tunnel during his performance back in 2014. 

Skating alongside his partner Susie Lipanova, suddenly the former EastEnders actor, 60, lost his balance and flew down the tunnel off stage, while Susie completed the routine alone. 

Judge Jason Gardiner said at the time: ‘Todd you’re like a derailed locomotion’, as the star was voted out in week four. 

Meanwhile Gemma Collins took a serious tumble when her graceful routine to Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back To Me Now suffered a bump in the road. 

As the TOWIE star, 42, tripped and fell on the rink back in 2019, her professional partner Matt Evers rushed to her aid. 

Returning to the show as an audience member for the show’s Christmas special later that year, she said: ‘I got so excited, I just went too over the top with my movement, which you’re not allowed to do in ice skating and my toe pick got caught – and bang. 

‘I thought I was dead. I literally thought I was dead.’ 

Joe Pasquale managed to fall off the ice in his week one routine to Queen’s Flash.

Skating towards a podium for the finale of the routine, the actor, 62, flew off the ice and landed in a heap, before quickly clambering to his feet and stumbling to the top of the podium for an epic finish.

Host Christine Lampard joked: ‘Well he not only entertained us, I think he possibly winded himself as well.’ 

Brookside actress Jennifer Ellison, 40, accidentally struck herself in the head with her skate while trying to perform a tricky manoeuvre back in 2012. 

Despite the injury during the ‘scorpion kick’ she bravely continued to finish her routine, receiving her highest score up until that point. 

The blonde left the ring as soon as her routine ended to receive medical help with blood pouring from her head. 

Meanwhile in 2006, England goal keeper David Seaman accidentally dropped partner Pam O’Connor during rehearsals. 

The footballer attempted to swing his partner round by her feet only to hit her face on the ice and result in a hospital dash. 

Supermodel Caprice Bourett accused pro Hamish Gaman of bullying after she exited the show after two weeks in 2020. 

Reports claimed she was ‘poised to sue ITV over the fallout’ and allegations that the skater ‘gaslighted’ her in tough training sessions. 

Caprice was said to have complained about Hamish and the duo were assigned a supervisor to watch their rehearsals.

Despite the allegations, ITV said they ‘found no evidence of bullying’ on the show. 

ITV told MailOnline at the time: ‘We take allegations of bullying very seriously but found no evidence on Dancing On Ice and we strongly refute any suggestion to the contrary.

‘We’re very proud of the team, both on and off screen. They produce a fantastic show and we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works on the programme is fully supported.’

Former judge Jason Gardiner, 52, left the show four years ago, following a series that saw him at loggerheads with contestant Gemma Collins. 

The drama between Jason and Gemma played out on the 2019 series, with them at each other’s throats during the critiquing.

It eventually reached boiling point when the TOWIE star accused the judge of ‘selling stories’ about her and her apparent poor work ethic. 

The uproar eventually cost Jason his job on the show and he was replaced in 2018 by John Barrowman, 56 – before he faced the chop due to accusations of inappropriate behaviour. 

But his altercation with Gemma wasn’t his first after he found himself face to face with Denise Welch’s then husband Tim Healy back in 2011. 

After Jason described Denise and Matt’s routine as ‘watching two people playing Twister’ and called her upbeat routine from the week before ‘abysmal’ Tim decided to take matters into his own hands. 

As the audience cheered the Benidorm actor went face to face with Jason as he said: ‘Listen mate she’s 52 and she’s got four jobs, how many jobs have you got?’

‘Oh my God you’re breath!’ exclaimed Jason as he dramatically wafted the air, as Holly joked: ‘You mess with Denise you mess with her husband’. 

And just like its rival Strictly Come Dancing, the ITV show is no stranger to the dreaded curse and stars finding love with their professional partners.  

Coronation Street’s Samia Ghadie, 41, split from her co-star Will Thorp and found happiness with French skater Sylvain Longchambon, 43, – with whom she is now married and shares a son.

The budding romance also saw Sylvain split from Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Metcalfe, 40, after also meeting her on the ITV show. 

EastEnders’ Shona McGarty and former co-star Matt Lapinskas ended their romance during his stint on the series, reportedly due to his relationship to partner Brianne Delcourt.

The actor went on to date the professional for a year before the stunner dumped him amid cheating allegations.

David Seaman, 60, also found love with pro Frankie Poultney, 49, after retuning to the show for a second later making her his third wife.