ITV ‘AXES’ Dancing On Ice after 19 years on air as bosses confirm ‘No plans for another series’
ITV has reportedly axed Dancing On Ice after 19 years, with no plans for a 20th anniversary series in 2026.
The popular skating competition, which first aired in 2006, will not return to screens next year.
The decision means former This Morning host Holly Willoughby no longer has any programmes with ITV for the first time since 2004, when she started on CITV’s Ministry of Mayhem.
The show’s most recent series was hosted by Willoughby alongside Stephen Mulhern.
ITV bosses seem to have confirmed the cancellation after viewing figures dwindled to below 3 million for the last series.
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.
Last year the show scored its smallest live audience of all time when 2.9 million tuned in to one episode.
This year’s series kicked off with 2.9 million but then dropped to 2.4 million.
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,” 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 said: “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.”
The set for the show is now being dismantled following the decision to end the programme.
The Sun reported that the show’s set is being put into long-term storage, fuelling speculation about the axing.
A source told The Sun: “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.”
GB News has contacted ITV for comment on the reports.
Adding to the speculation, costumes from across the skating show’s almost two decades on air have been listed for auction on eBay.
Items include Andy Whyment’s 1980s bomber jacket and Ferne McCann’s studded leather jacket.
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.
Judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean announced earlier this year that the last series would mark their final appearance on the show ahead of a farewell arena tour.
Long-serving professional skaters including Brendyn Hatfield and Mark Hanretty have also confirmed they won’t be returning to the ice.
Host Holly Willoughby dropped a significant hint about the show’s future during the final when she signed off by saying “see you next time” rather than “next year”.
Torvill and Dean had previously said they wanted to leave “on a high” following the 30th anniversary of their Bolero win.