Holly Willoughby breaks silence with lengthy post as ITV axes Dancing On Ice after 19 years: ‘Will miss it hugely’
Holly Willoughby has broken her silence after it was confirmed ITV’s Dancing On Ice, which she has hosted for years, has been axed almost two decades since it debuted.
The 44-year-old former This Morning star shared her thoughts on Thursday as she addressed the show’s cancelation for the first time.
Taking to social media, Willoughby penned a cheerful post reflecting on the “brilliant” time she’s experienced on the show.
Along with a carousel of snaps taken throughout the years, Willoughby penned: “A huge thank you to @itv, The brilliant team, Crew, Celebrities and Everyone who has been part of our Dancing on Ice family over the last 19 years.
“Every year, just when January felt at its greyest, Dancing on Ice arrived like a burst of glittering, dazzling light, warm, joyful, and full of heart…
“It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside true national treasures Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, and to have a front-row seat to their breathtaking skating.
“Watching them glide across the ice was nothing less than pure magic…
“A special thanks must also go to Arnica, Deep Heat,Spanx and fake tan, unsung heroes of the rink!
“I will miss it hugely, but I count myself so lucky to have had it for as long as we did.
“Finally and most importantly, thank you to you for watching, you’re the BEST!”
Following reports of dwindling viewing figures, ITV confirmed this week the celebrity skating competition would be “rested”.
The news came after ratings fell to below three-million for the last series earlier this year.
The most recent final, won by Coronation Street star Sam Aston, managed to pull in just 2.7 million viewers.
This marks a staggering decline from the show’s heyday when an estimated 12 million viewers tuned in.
An ITV spokesperson told GB News: “Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series,” The Mirror reports.
“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.”
Channel insiders told the publication that the Sunday night series was set to be dropped after sinking to its lowest ever ratings.
One insider told The Mirror: “It’s had a good run for nearly 20 years and has a very loyal set of viewers who really love it but the sad truth is there’s just not enough of them.”
Dancing On Ice originally ran from 2006 until being axed in 2014 by ITV.
The show was rebooted four years later in 2018, with Torvill and Dean swapping their role as mentors to become judges.
Holly first hosted the show alongside Phillip Schofield from its launch in 2006 to 2011, when she quit to front The Voice on BBC1.
She was replaced for three years by Christine Lampard before returning when the show was brought back after its four-year absence.