A celebrity Dancing on Ice contestant has been forced to quit the show after having her training cut short by a serious injury.
Season 17 of ITV’s ice skating competition will return to screens in 2025, with an exact date yet to be confirmed. It is understood that Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern will host the forthcoming series together for a second time after Phillip Schofield quit last year, admitting to an “unwise but not illegal affair” with a younger male colleague.
ITV announced the cast for the new season in September with confirmed contestants already including reality TV stars and broadcasters. Among them are former Traitors contestant Mollie Pearce, Coronation Street actor Sam Aston, and ex-Eastenders star Charlie Brooks.
However, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey has been forced to pull out of the competition as contestant training is underway.
“Absolutely gutted to have my Dancing on Ice training interrupted in this way,” she wrote in a post on Instagram on Friday (6 December). “Just as my first routine with @slongchambon was really coming together!”
She explained, “An awkward stumble and fall with my left foot stuck on the ice sadly led to me fracturing my left ankle.”
The 47-year-old thanked her dance partner Sylvain Longchambon, coach Stephen Pickavance, and head of medical Sharon Morrison for assisting her.
“I’m already fixed and home with rehab underway!” she said.
“Whilst I can’t wear my left skating boot in time to take to the ice in January, I’m working with the team at ITV to come up with a plan for what’s next and I’ll always be the biggest cheerleader of the awesome group that is the Class of 2025.”
She continued, “In the meantime I’ll be fully focused on all the strength and mobility work I need to do to get back to full power and of course back to my bike ahead of next season!
“My career has seen so many ups and downs with injury and illness, plus returning after two babies, which means I’m well equipped for another comeback.”
She concluded, “Thankfully the surgeon said I have strong bones so otherwise it could have been a lot worse.”
