Dancing On Ice fans fear show will be axed as 2024 series starts in chaos as it films WITHOUT hosts
DANCING On Ice fans are on the edge of their seats as they fear the the show could be cancelled as hosts have still not been confirmed for the new season, which is just weeks away.
The competitive dance show is usually hosted by Holly Willoughby, but her return is still up in the air.
Former This Morning star Holly, 42, is apparently reluctant to return to Dancing On Ice for its upcoming series after making her exit from ITV back in October. But fans are concerned that without her the show will be axed.
Holly’s shock exit from the morning show came just months after her long-time co-host Phillip Schofield, 61, resigned.
The pair have hosted Dancing on Ice on and off since it launched in 2006. Christine Lampard took over for three seasons, before Holly and Phillip took over again in 2018.
However, they will not reunite for the 2024 show, which now has a full line-up.
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Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas, 39, former boxing champ Ricky Hatton, 45, ex-ski jumper Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, 59, DJ Adele Roberts, 44, EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood, 40, and Olympic gold medallist long-jumper Greg Rutherford, 36 are among the celebs set to compete on the 2024 series.
Gogglebox legend Stephen Lustig-Webb also signed on to dance next year, but he was forced to pull out of the show after injuring his ankle during training.
The cast of the upcoming series has been busy rehearsing, but Dancing On Ice can’t move forward without its presenters.
Last month an insider exclusively told The Sun that the show was in “limbo” without any hosts.
They said: “In many ways the producers of Dancing on Ice are in limbo until they can resolve the issue of who’ll be steering the ship when the show returns.
“Although it usually doesn’t start until mid-January, bosses still now find themselves working on a timescale measured in weeks, not months.”
ITV bosses have been scrambling to find another co-host.
Deal or No Deal host Stephen Mulhern, 46, is the current favourite as he successfully stood in for Phillip previously.
Whilst unconfirmed to be a host, Stephen admitted to MailOnline that it would be “amazing” to join the cast of the show and work with Holly.
However, with time running out and no confirmation of who will host Dancing on Ice, fans have been left fearing the series will get the axe.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their concern, one fan said: “I really hope Dancing On Ice isn’t cancelled.”
While another long-time viewer said the competition show just won’t be the same without Holly.
A source told MailOnline that ITV bosses are working around the clock to lock in co-hosts for the series and they are still hoping Holly will return.
They said: “Bosses hope they can convince her to come back to work in the new year because they feel the relationship between her and Stephen is exactly what the series needs.
“The situation is extremely sensitive due to everything that Holly has gone through in recent months and the channel is being careful not to put pressure on her decision, although they are hoping that renegotiating her contract will help to close the deal.
“Time is running out now given photoshoots need to happen, plus it won’t be long until the show needs to start promoting the new series.”
While some fans have become fearful that Dancing on Ice might be cancelled, others remain hopeful that the show will go ahead, even if the show has completely new hosts.
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Throwing out new hosting suggestions, one fan said: “I’ve thought of the perfect hosts Stephen Mulhern & Emma Willis. I think they will work really well together.”
Dancing On Ice is expected to return in January 2024.