Holly Willoughby 'hesitant' to return to Dancing on Ice, ITV 'in limbo' over hosting line-up

Virgin Radio

16 Nov 2023, 10:56

Holly Willougbhy is reportedly not yet signed up to host the next series of Dancing on Ice. 

The former This Morning host, who stepped away from the daytime show in October, had hosted the ITV skating competition alongside ex-colleague Phillip Schofield since its inception in 2006. 

However, Schofield left Dancing on Ice and all of ITV entirely in May after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male staffer.

Holly has kept a low profile since leaving This Morning, and now, The Sun has reported she might not be certain of returning to her next TV gig in January. 

Sources told the publication: “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.”

The insider added: “It’s a very precarious position to be in when they have all the crew and a group of celebrities already working towards the first show, but nobody nailed on to present it.”

According to The Sun, Holly is ‘hesitant’ to return to the limelight since her This Morning departure. 

While ITV have yet to confirm their Dancing on Ice hosting line-up, a spokesperson for ITV told virginradio.co.uk: “Further announcements regarding Dancing on Ice will be made in due course.”

All eyes have been on who will replace Phillip when the series returns in the new year, and newly appointed Deal or No Deal host Stephen Mulhern recently confirmed he was “in talks” with producers about taking over the slot. 

Speaking to MailOnline, the incoming Deal or No Deal host admitted presenting beside Holly is always “a great time”, but the deal has yet to be signed off. 

Stephen explained: “We are talking about it, but I promise you now that nothing is confirmed but if it happens, it will be absolutely amazing... if it doesn't, look, it doesn't. I promise you I would tell you if we had it confirmed at this point.

“The lineup is the best it has been in a few years... I am keeping across the lineup, just in case... It is a huge staple, and it has been around.”

Not only did Stephen fill in for Schofield when he was off with COVID in 2022, but he also presented the 2006 spin-off series Defrosted. 

The 2024 series of Dancing on Ice has already confirmed its star-studded line-up, which includes World Champion Boxer Ricky Hatton MBE; the actress Claire Sweeney; the actress and singer Hannah Spearritt; West End star Amber Davies; and Olympic Champion and presenter Greg Rutherford MBE; Made in Chelsea star Miles Nazaire; Gogglebox’s Stephen Lustig-Webb; comedian Lou Saunders; actor Ricky Norwood; broadcaster Adele Roberts; soap star Ryan Thomas and Emmerdale’s Roxy Shahidi. 

Dancing on Ice returns to ITV in January 2024.