14 January 2006 (2006-01-14) – 9 March 2014 (2014-03-09)
Network
ITV
Release
7 January 2018 (2018-01-07) – present
Dancing on Ice is a British television series currently presented by Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby. Former hosts include Phillip Schofield, who hosted from 2006 to 2023, and Christine Lampard, who hosted in Willoughby's absence from 2012 to 2014. The series features celebrities and their professional partners figure skating in front of a panel of judges. The series, broadcast on ITV, started on 14 January 2006 and initially ended on 9 March 2014.
On 4 September 2017, it was announced that a revived series would air on ITV from 7 January 2018 with Schofield and Willoughby returning as hosts. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean assumed new roles as head judges, alongside original judge Jason Gardiner and new judge Ashley Banjo. In 2020, John Barrowman replaced Gardiner as a judge, however on 3 October 2021, it was announced that Barrowman would not be returning to the judging panel.[1] His replacement was later announced as Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse.[2] During the finale of the fifteenth series, it was confirmed that the show would return in 2024 for its sixteenth series. Following Schofield's resignation from ITV in 2023, Stephen Mulhern began co-hosting the series alongside Willoughby. In March 2024 it was announced that Dancing on Ice would return in 2025.[3]
Background and history
The series was announced in November 2004 and originally titled Stars on Thin Ice,[4] the show was renamed following the failure of ITV's celebrity oriented 2005 summer schedule. Dancing on Ice is frequently compared to the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. In 2004, the BBC aired a Strictly special entitled Strictly Ice Dancing at Christmas, which was won by England goalkeeper David Seaman, who later became a contestant on the first series of Dancing on Ice.[5]
ITV's show was given a January premiere amidst network doubts about its viability but became a surprise hit in Britain, where it became the third highest rated television show of 2006. It attained an impressive 13 million viewers for the final in March. Britain's best-known ice-skating duo and Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean help to train the aspiring dancers, and also appear throughout the show with comments and advice. Head Coach Karen Barber also trains the skaters for the live show.[6] From the beginning, Torvill and Dean opened every episode with a performance, with the exception of the second, third and fourth shows of the fourth series, when Torvill performed alone due to Dean's recovery from a shoulder operation. From 2012, they performed less frequently.[7]
During the shows first two series, it ran two supplementary programmes – Dancing on Ice Defrosted, presented by Stephen Mulhern, and Dancing on Ice Exclusive (or Dancing on Ice Extra during series 1) presented by Andi Peters alongside Andrea McLean in series 1 and Ben Shephard in series 2. In mid-2007, it was announced that both shows would not return to accompany the third series as the audience attracted was out of ITV2's target range.[9] As part of ITV's new revamped schedule at the start of 2008, from the third series, the show aired on a Sunday night and featured updated music and new titles as well as redesigned graphics. The series 3 finale was a massive draw, pulling an average 11.7 million viewers (up from 9.6 million the previous year) peaking at 12.6 million viewers over the two-hour slot, up over a million from series 2.[10]
The seventh series began on 8 January 2012, with Torvill and Dean as coaches for which they will be paid £250,000 each series.[11]Christine Lampard was announced as the new co-presenter of the show replacing Holly Willoughby, whilst Katarina Witt and Louie Spence replaced Emma Bunton and Jason Gardiner on the judging panel.[12] On 20 November 2012, it was announced that Gardiner was to return to the panel for the 2013 series, replacing Spence.[13][14] The full judging panel for the 2013 series was revealed on 28 December 2012, with former The Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts joining and Karen Barber returning to the panel after acting as head coach on the show the previous two years; they joined Gardiner and head judge Robin Cousins on the panel.[15]
Cancellation and revival
On 21 May 2013, Torvill and Dean announced that they would leave the series after its ninth series in 2014,[16] leading to speculation that the whole show would be axed. On 24 June 2013 it was rumoured that Dancing on Ice may continue after they have left with new coaches,[17] however, on 22 October 2013 it was confirmed that the show would end after its ninth series in 2014.[18]
On 4 September 2017, ITV confirmed that the show would return in 2018. Torvill and Dean will return to the show as head judges along with Schofield and Willoughby as presenters.[19] On 19 October 2017, Ashley Banjo was confirmed as a judge.[20] Later that month, Gardiner confirmed that he would return to the judging panel.[21] Ashley's brother, Jordan Banjo, acts as the show's backstage digital host.[22]ITV Racing's betting presenter Matt Chapman was announced as the new commentator on 16 December 2017.[23] However, following the first live show on 7 January, Chapman claimed that he had "quit" the show but it was later confirmed to be a decision by the ITV producers, responding to pressure from the TV audience.[24] ITV and Talksport football commentator Sam Matterface was later confirmed as Chapman's replacement.[25] On 21 August 2019, Gardiner confirmed that he would not return for the 12th series in 2020.[26] At the start of September, series one contestant John Barrowman was confirmed as his replacement.[27] On 3 October 2021, ITV announced that Barrowman would not be returning to the judging panel in 2022.[28] In December, it was confirmed that Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse would replace him for the fourteenth series.[2]
In May 2023, Schofield resigned from ITV after admitting to having had a relationship with a young male ITV employee, ultimately confirming his departure from both This Morning and Dancing on Ice.[29][30][31]Stephen Mulhern, who previously stood in for Schofield as presenter during the fourteenth series, was announced as his replacement and will co-host alongside Willoughby.[32][33]
Format
Each week the celebrities and their partners perform a live ice dance routine. The four/five (as of Series 8) judges (commonly known as the Ice Panel) judge each performance and give a mark between 0.0 and 10.0 (0.0 to 6.0 between series 1 and 5), depending on the performance. These total scores then create a leaderboard which combines with the public vote in order to determine the two lowest placed couples. As this is the case, the pair with the lowest score from the judges can avoid being in the bottom two if the public vote for them.[34]
Once the scores and votes are combined to form the final leaderboard for that week's show, the two/three couples at the bottom compete in a final showdown known as the "Skate Off", where they perform a different routine known as the Save-Me Skate. Unlike the main routines, this routine can be reused if the celebrity is in the Skate Off more than once. Once the couples have performed their routines for the judging panel, the judges decide on who deserves to stay and cast their votes, based on their second performance. The couple with the most votes from the judges receives a place in the following week's show, while the couple with the fewest votes leaves the competition. One couple leaves the competition each week, but in series 7, two couples left in one week, due to numbering issues. This also occurred in series 10, 11 and 14 respectively.[35]
A live reunion special was staged one week after the end of each season, with all celebrities talking about their experiences during the season, and answering questions from a live studio audience. Torvill and Dean themselves then made a special in-studio appearance towards the end, thanking the contestants, hosts and judges, and the viewers for their votes.[36]
Required elements
From Series 1 to 8, there was an element that the skaters were required to perform as part of their routines. From Series 9, the required skating elements format was removed due to the All-Star nature of the series. It was brought back in Series 10, known as the judges' challenge. The required elements included:[37]
Classic moves of Torvill and Dean, sometimes with a choice between them
Cross rolls
Toe step sequences
Pair spin
One unique move
Solo skate
Change of edge
Studio set and ice rink
The show was based in the George Lucas Stage at Elstree Studios from 2006 to 2010. In 2011 the show was broadcast from Shepperton Studios. In 2012 it returned to Elstree with a new, more modern set. There were several areas of the Elstree studio. The Tunnel was to the left of the rink and was where the couples entered the rink. The Ice Cave was situated at the back of the rink and was where Phillip Schofield and Torvill and Dean stood to interview the couples. The Judges and Contestants Area was to the right of the rink and was where the judging panel were based, and where Holly Willoughby or Christine Bleakley stood to speak to them and the couples.[38]
The line-up was revealed on 18 December 2010, and consisted of sixteen celebrities. The first two shows, on 9 and 16 January 2011, were billed as "qualifying" rounds, with eight couples skating in each, and two being eliminated each week. The remaining twelve couples progressed to the main competition, which started on 23 January.[44]
The tenth series debuted on ITV on 7 January 2018. It was the first series since the show had ended in 2014 and featured a new set and ice rink, a new panel of judges, and a new logo. After the tenth series, the live tour of Dancing on Ice returned from March to April 2018, featuring celebrities from the series.
The sixteenth series began airing on ITV from 14 January 2024. In May 2023, Phillip Schofield who had presented the show since its inception, resigned from ITV after admitting to having had a relationship with an ITV employee.[47]Stephen Mulhern, who previously stood in for Schofield as presenter during the fourteenth series, was announced to be co-hosting the series alongside Holly Willoughby in December 2023.[48][49]
Like many other reality TV shows, Dancing on Ice has had a number of supplementary shows. The first was Dancing on Ice Defrosted. It was presented by Stephen Mulhern and aired on ITV2 immediately after the main ITV show and again after the results show. The show featured opinions from celebrity guests and past contestants as well as from Torvill and Dean, the judges, presenters and competitors. Judge Nicky Slater also offered in-depth analysis of various performances using the latest video technology that the judges use to judge performances.[73]
The second spin-off show was originally called Dancing on Ice Extra and was presented by Andi Peters and Andrea McLean, both competitors in the first series. Midway through the first series Paul O'Grady left ITV to join Channel 4 meaning that ITV had no show to put on air at 5 pm. The format of Dancing on Ice Defrosted was modified so that it could be broadcast every weekday. Due to Andrea's maternity leave during the second series she did not return to present the show and therefore Ben Shephard joined the show as the anchor presenter, and, unlike during the previous, series Andi Peters was now a roving reporter around the studio. For its second run the show was renamed Dancing on Ice Exclusive. Neither of these first two spin-off shows returned in 2008 nor 2009.[74]
In 2010 it was announced that a new spin-off show would accompany Dancing on Ice, named Dancing on Ice Friday, presented by Ben Shephard and Coleen Nolan.[75]
Champion of Champions (2007)
This took place on Saturday 24 March 2007 and featured finalists from both Series 1 and Series 2. All six celebrities did one routine each, scored by the judges, and then voted on by the public. The two couples finishing first after the public voted skated again in the skate off to decide the winner. The skaters that did not reach the skate off – 3rd to 6th – were announced "in no particular order", so ranks may not be accurate.[76]
Team Torvill scored 80 points to Team Dean's 79.5 and won the show by also receiving the majority of the audience votes.
Suzanne Shaw received the perfect score of 30 for the third time in a row. In her last two appearances on the show she has picked up the trophy.
Dancing on Ice: Make Me a Star (2008)
A 30-minute prime time spin-off to Dancing on Ice premiered on 26 January 2008 and ran for a few episodes, presented solely by Holly Willoughby. This both showed some exclusive footage of the celebrities training for the Sunday night main show and followed Torvill and Dean on the search for a member of the public to perform on the Dancing on Ice final in 2009.[78]
This was shown after the announcement of the bottom two had been made but before the skate off. It showed Torvill and Dean's search for an entertainment act on ice, with auditions from all kinds of ice skaters. The winner skated live on the Dancing on Ice 2009 final and join Torvill and Dean on tour.[79]
From a shortlist of 20 acts, Torvill and Dean invited only four back to give another performance in the Dancing on Ice studio.[80] The final four were:
An Olympic special aired on 22 July 2012, before the London 2012 Summer Olympics. It featured medal-winning Olympic athletes.[82]
The one-off special featured the judges from series 7, with Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley returning as presenters. Torvill & Dean unveiled a new and specially-crafted performance. Head judge, Robin Cousins also performed a solo routine for first time in twelve years.[83]
The judges scores were added to the studio audiences votes to decide the winner. No public vote took place, as the programme was recorded earlier in the year.
Dancing on Ice Friday (2010)
A brand new spin-off show for the 2010 series of Dancing on Ice, appropriately called Dancing on Ice Friday, gave viewers the insight to the training of the celebrities over the last week. It was presented by television presenter Ben Shephard and former contestant and Loose Women star Coleen Nolan. The show was broadcast from 8 pm to 8.30 pm on Friday evenings on ITV throughout the duration of the main shows season. STV who broadcast the main show did not broadcast this on the Friday evening but after repeating the previous week's main show on the following Saturday afternoon. Due to poor ratings, Dancing on Ice Friday was axed prior to the 2011 series.[84][85]
Dancing on Ice at Christmas (2019)
A Christmas special aired on 22 December 2019 featuring performances from all the couples of the series 12, previous winner Ray Quinn, series 11 contestant Gemma Collins, and Torvill and Dean.[86]Jake Quickenden was also supposed to be performing, but on 13 November 2019, it was announced that he had to pull out due to a neck injury.[87]
Dancing on Ice: The Greatest Show on Ice (2021)
Due to a number of early withdrawals and to give the remaining contestants sufficient time to recover from any injuries, series 13 was paused for one week and the episode scheduled to air on 21 February was replaced with a pre-recorded special celebrating the most memorable moments in the show's history.[88]
Dancing on Ice: The Tour
Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice: The Live Tour is a nationwide tour in the United Kingdom. It began in 2007 following the success of the television series Dancing on Ice.
During the second series of Dancing on Ice on ITV, it was announced that the show would be taken on a UK arena tour. The tour was presented by former contestant and Dancing on Ice Exclusive host Andi Peters and featured contestants from the UK and Australian series of the show competing against each other for audience votes (cast via SMS). Each contestant performed two solo routines for the judges: (Nicky Slater, Jason Gardiner, Karen Barber, Robin Cousins, and a guest judge who varied at each location). The two couples with the most votes then proceeded to the Bolero Dance-Off. Following the completion of the dance-off, the judges selected a winner decided by a majority vote. The live show also featured numerous performances from Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean as well as the professional skaters from the television series and other special guests.
