Hayley Tamaddon praises DOI as a ‘fantastic family show’

Dancing on thin ice or can the thawing ratings be reversed?

Earlier this week Dr Jill Rose Jacobs spoke of how an ‘all star’ Dancing on Ice series could potentially breathe new life into the format.

“I think an All-Stars series would be a great idea for Dancing On Ice, but they would have to get the selection right. If we’re talking about what it would take to save the show right now, I think an All-Stars series is the way to go. They can’t lose with that.

“That would be the best way to get the public interested in the show again. One person I would love to see return is Greg Rutherford. I think he could be considered an “All-Star” and I was really routing for him when he was on the show. I’d love to see him, and many others on the show again.” – Dr Jill Rose Jacobs

Today former Dancing on Ice champion Hayley Tamaddon also throws her support behind the long running ITV1 and STV show. Speaking to Heart Bingo Hayley noted that it would be “a real shame” if the series were to be axed by ITV, suggesting that the programme owes it to ice skating fans to continue the sport’s representation.

“It would be really sad if this was the last ever series of Dancing on Ice,” she said. “I feel as if it’s a show that can continue and run for many years to come. It’s a fantastic family show that’s on at a great time of the week where kids can watch.

“On top of all that, there’s no other ice-skating representation on television at the moment – yet it’s one of the best sports on offer at the moment. It’s an Olympic sport! If we take it away from television and young kids who want to skate, there won’t be as many people interested in it.

“What the show currently offers is representation for those people who love to skate, so it would be a real shame if that’s taken away from us.”

DOI judges in 2023 / ITV

The show launched with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield as hosts in 2006, and has previously taken a ‘rest’ from the telly schedules for three years between 2015-2017. In the final couple of series Holly was replaced by former The One Show host Christine Lampard.

The previous two series saw former guest host and Dancing on Ice Defrosted presenter Stephen Mulhern take over from Schofield who left ITV under a cloud of ‘shame’ following admitting to lying to bosses about an affair with a much younger man who he worked with on daytime magazine offering This Morning. It was just one of several ‘scandals’ that had plagued Phillip and the morning show prior to his departure.

Hayley was also full of praise for the programme’s presenters, Holly and Stephen. “I absolutely love Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern as the show’s presenters!” she said. “They are so good together as a duo – Holly balances out Stephen and Stephen balances out Holly, they’re a complete package for me.

“I love the humour Stephen brings and Holly’s little looks to him afterwards – they are such a great pairing and I love watching them. I hope they continue on the show for years to come because they’re a big part of what makes the show so much fun to watch and engage with.”

ITV have yet to make any official comment on the future of the programme, however tabloid reports suggest staff on the production have been told there won’t be a series for 2026.

Original hosts, Phillip and Holly / ITV