ITV confirms Dancing On Ice axe

ITV has confirmed reports that Dancing On Ice won’t be returning to its schedules in 2026.

Earlier this month, there were rumours that ITV was set to cancel the show for a second time due to its declining viewership.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster has now told The Sun: 

“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.”

This year’s series kicked off with 2.9 million but then dropped to 2.4 million. The final, won by Coronation Street star Sam Aston, pulled in just 2.7 million viewers – quite a contrast to the 12 million who watched Suzanne Shaw, a former Hearsay member, take the trophy back in 2008.

First airing on ITV in 2006, Dancing On Ice pairs famous faces with professional skaters, who each week perform in a bid to impress a panel of judges and the viewers at home. The show was first axed by ITV in 2014, leaving screens with an all-stars series following legendary skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s decision to take a step back from the format.

However, after a string of entertainment flops, the network revived the show in 2018, with Torvill and Dean transitioning from coaching roles to the judging panel alongside Ashley Banjo and original judge Jason Gardiner. John Barrowman took over for Gardiner in 2021, and Oti Mabuse replaced Barrowman in 2022.

The show was hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby from 2006 to 2012, with Christine Bleakley replacing Willoughby for the final two years of the original run.

The reboot saw Holly re-join Phil until he was axed in 2024 over his affair with a young This Morning colleague. He was replaced by Stephen Mulhern.