Dancing On Ice has finally been cancelled by ITV - and fans have taken to the internet to share their thoughts.
Yesterday it was revealed by an ITV spokesperson that DOI had been “rested” with “no current plans for another series”.
The show, in which celebrities are paired with professional ice skaters to perform routines for a panel of judges, has run for 17 series.
But it’s not the first time this has happened - it also took a break after the ninth series in 2014 before making a comeback in 2018.
After several years of higher ratings, viewer numbers have dropped with the first episode of the 2025 season watched by fewer than three million people on average across ITV and its streaming platform ITVX.
Now, fans have spoken on the show being axed - and there’s been a mixed reaction.
Replying to a thread on X about the cancellation, one viewer wasn’t surprised, saying: “Hardly any competitors I knew and too much noise from the audience, not a very convenient airing time either, overmarking from two of the judges in particular.”
But another hit out at ITV’s decision, saying: “So get rid of this but still have big brother and BGT, they’re just as bad with poor viewing figures, ridiculous.”
And another fan agreed, saying ITV should consider binning other shows too.
“About time too,” they wrote. “Next on the list should be Britain”s Got Talent and I’m a Celebrity… they’ve had their moment.”
Another said: “Truly gutted watched from series 1, the best dancing competition on tv and it's not a easy one either, well done to all the professional dancers who were part of this fabulous competition.”
An average of 2.9 million viewers watched the first episode on January 12, compared with 2024 when an average of 3.6 million viewers tuned in for the launch show, which also marked Willoughby’s return to television after she left This Morning in October 2023.
The skating competition drew a peak audience of 3.1 million across ITV and streaming platform ITVX for its opening show this year, compared with four million in 2024, when Stephen Mulhern took over from former presenter Phillip Schofield.
More than 200 celebrities have taken to the ice since 2006, including Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle who won in 2013, and Coronation Street actor Sam Aston, who won this year’s competition with his skating partner Molly Lanaghan.
