Fans of sparkly telly rejoice – Dancing on Ice is set to return to our screens!
ITV boss Kevin Lygo has decided that what the channel is missing is its version of Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to revive the ice show in a bid to give the channel its very own jewel in the crown.
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Just last year he spoke about how he thought it had been a mistake to ditch the show from the schedules three years ago.
Like any show the format had grown tired and even though ratings were still buoyant, they had slipped somewhat from their peak.
When the show launched in 2006, the series ended on a massive 11.68m viewers, while series three saw its biggest audience ever of 12.08m.
However, by the time it had reached it’s ninth series, the finale was watched by 5.98m, and had an average viewership of 5.04m – still impressive figures in this day and age of multichannels.
Talking last year, Lygo admitted that he felt the decision to dump the show had been premature: “I think when Dancing On Ice was cut, it was felt, ‘oh we need to refresh, it’s gone down a bit in the ratings’.
“I watched it, it was the most lovely family show and a really good feeling and distinctive and brilliantly produced, and actually I wish it had gone on a bit longer.”
Although ITV are yet to officially confirm the show, we can reveal that producers and the team are currently in discussions.
A source told The Sun: “Kevin always thought ITV axing Dancing on Ice was a mistake so now the idea of bringing it back is being looked at.
“It was a smash hit, and even at its worst was still pulling in more than some of the shows currently on telly – particularly in the Sunday night slot.
“It’s very early days and nothing has been commissioned just yet but it’s definitely on the to-do list.
“A Sunday night slot would make a lot of sense.”
Although Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, who was replaced by Christine Lampard for the last three series, are expected to return to present the show, it’s believed that legendary Olympic duo Torvill and Dean will be replaced by a new couple of dancers.
The pair left the series on the 30th anniversary of their famous Olympic Bolero win and felt it was the right time to hang up their skates.
“It’s 30 years next year since we performed in Bolero and we just thought: it’s full circle.
“We’ve had this wonderful experience and we just wanted to finish at the top of our game, and the show to be on top of its game.’
Dancing On Ice not only treated its fans to many great dances from the likes of Ray Quinn, Hayley Tamaddon and Kieron Bracken, it also tickled us with some of the worst movers on ice we’d ever seen – Andi Peters and Todd Carty, please take a bow!
Not only that, we saw a fair of bit of off-ice drama, when Sylvain Longchambon hooked up with Samia Ghadie on the show a year after he’d got together with his previous dance partner Jennifer Metcalfe.
Among the glittering stars who took part on the show over the years, the most jaw dropping were Pamela Anderson, Corey Feldman, Dallas star Charlene Tilton, and Vanilla Ice.