Dancing On Ice 2025: Live updates as celebrity skating contest returns to ITV and bosses make major change

Ferne McCann was second to perform with her pro partner Brendyn Hatfield, as they took to the ice with a ‘breathtaking’ dance to Somewhere Only We Know.

She fought back tears as she revealed her daughter Sunday is in the crowd tonight.

The reality star admitted: ‘I was trying not to look at her because it was making me well up even more’.

Speaking of her debut performance, judge Chris said: ‘The choreography for this really showcased your abilities. It was magical, it was lush.’

Stephen and Holly dropped the bombshell that there will be no Skate Off for the first two weeks of the show

Six of the couples will perform this week and the other half will take to the rink next week.

After everyone has performed, the couple with the fewest votes and lowest scores will be out straight away with no chance to skate off.

Coronation Street star Sam Aston brought the fun in the first performance of the series with his professional partner Molly Beth Lanaghan.

Donning colourful neon outfits pair danced on the ice to That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings.

And the funky choice paid off as the judges had very high praise.

Paul gushed: ‘Sam what a great first performance. I loved the smoothness of the skating, you’re into the ice. Some of the best back crossovers I’ve seen for the first show.’

Hosts Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern have opened the show by introducing the glamorous judges.

Holly looks sensational in a glittering blue gown with silver detailing in her first Dancing On Ice outfit of the series.

The launch show has kicked off and the eleven celebrities have taken to the rink together for the first time for a group introduction performance!

Let us know who you’re most excited to see in the comments section.

Ferne McCann posed for a racy Dancing On Ice shoot on Tuesday as she prepares to take to the rink.

The ITV skating show returns to British screens on Sunday with Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern at the helm, and fans were treated to promo shots of the celebrities and professional partners.

Former TOWIE star Ferne, 34, showed off her incredible figure in a plunging pale blue halterneck mini dress.

She posed up a storm alongside her pro skating partner Brendyn Hatfield, who wore a shimmering silver shirt and navy trousers.

The sexy shoot comes days after Ferne got candid about her relationship with fiancé Lorri Haines, as she admitted that the couple are ‘not constantly upbeat and positive’.

The influencer and her partner, 33, share daughter Finty, 16 months, while Ferne is also mother to daughter Sunday, six, from a previous relationship and Lorri also has a son with a former partner.

• Read the full story by Codie Bullen here

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have revealed their second Dancing On Ice performance during the 2025 series will be their last ever on TV together, as they prepare for retirement.

The duo, known as Torvill and Dean, rose to fame when they won gold at the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics with their iconic skate to Maurice Ravel’s Boléro – which is replicated each year by the Dancing On Ice finalists.

The skating stars delight Dancing On Ice viewers each year as they themselves take to the ice – but they have now confirmed that will no longer be a feature on the ITV show.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the pair explained: ‘This is our last year, so it’s a big one.

‘We are going to do two performances during the series but the second will be our last ever on television.’

• Read the full exclusive interview by Codie Bullen here

Dancing On Ice star Chelsee Healey has revealed she was rushed to medics after a ‘scary fall’ that resulted in her fainting on the ice.

The actress, 36, was left unconscious during a training session with her pro skating partner Andy Buchanan, who had to drag her off ice the ice.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline ahead of Sunday’s launch show, Chelsee explained: ‘It is intense, and you use body parts that I didn’t even know I had, like I fell on me, coccyx.

‘That taught me a lesson because I fell on my coccyx, and I got up and went all dizzy, and fainted. So that was actually really scary.

‘Andy picked me up and dragged me off the ice. I was all dizzy, and then I just went. But we got through that.’

• Read Codie Bullen’s exclusive story here

Sir Steve Redgrave says he ‘hated’ training for the Olympics and has become ‘very unfit’ as he get’s ready to perform on Dancing On Ice.

As the record holder for the most titled rower in history, he told the Mail: ‘I have loved being back into a routine.

‘One of the things I hated in the sport that I did, is that you were always doing the same things day in and day out.

‘And then when I stopped competing 25 years ago, and now being back into that, I’ve enjoyed it.

‘I trained because I liked winning and being successful. And the more I trained the more races I won.’

• Read Molly Clayton’s exclusive interview here

Dancing On Ice will pay a poignant tribute to former contestant The Vivienne on Sunday’s launch show.

The gesture comes after it was revealed that the Drag Race star – who took part in the BBC programme in 2023 – had died aged 32 on January 5 2025.

Dancing On Ice will be back on our screens for its 17th series this week and the competition series will pay its respects to The Vivienne, according to The Sun.

A show insider told the publication: ‘The Vivienne was a trailblazer and was the first Drag artist to appear on Dancing On Ice.

‘ITV wants to pay their respects to them and will put out a tribute on Sunday night’s show. The team working on the show loved Viv and wanted to do something to honour them.’

• Read the full story by Lucy Murgatroyd and Laura Parkin here

Coronation Street’s Sam Aston is the most likely contestant to win ITV’s Dancing on Ice, according to new data analysis.

The series, which is in its 17th year, is back on screens on Sunday January 12 at 6.45pm.

Sam joins the likes of TOWIE’s Fearne McCann, The Traitors star Mollie Pearce and Chelsee Heeley in forming the line up.

Ahead of the first episode, odds experts at Slotozilla have analysed data from the show’s previous winners to reveal what makes a winning contestant.

The research which uses 15 years worth of data analysed a range of factors including the contestant’s profession, hometown, age, gender and more.

• Read the full story by Amelia Wynne here

Dancing On Ice has changed the structure of the show in a huge shake up designed ‘to avoid upsetting the celebs’.

ITV bosses are said to have changed the dance-off as the stars will no longer have to skate a new performance if they find themselves in the bottom two, according to The Sun.

Usually, the celebrities not only had to learn a routine for their weekly performance but would also have to put together a dance for if they found themselves voted into the bottom two.

Now it is believed that the stars will simply have to just reperform what they put forward for the main competition.

• Read the full story by Chloe Louise here

Let’s meet the celebrities and their partners ahead of tonight’s launch.

Profession: Reality TV star

Partner: Brendyn Hatfield

What did they say?: ‘I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I’m excited for the glitz and glamour of the show.’

Profession: Former Olympic rower

What did they say? ‘It’s like going back to being an athlete again, I’ve been competing most of my life.’

What did they say?: ‘I’ve skated when I was a kid and with mulled wine at Christmas. Until I get on the ice I have no idea how I’m going to be. I’m not that strong.’

Profession: Footballer and pundit

What did they say?: Dancing On Ice will give me that focus but I’m also doing it for my daughter because she loves dance and performing arts.’

What did they say?: ‘I’m somewhere between absolutely terrified and very excited and I keep flitting between the two quite aggressively throughout the day. I’ve not even started stretching yet, I need to.’

What did they say?: ‘I’m ready, I’m good to go, let’s go! I’ve got a bit of rhythm but skating on ice is completely different, I’m excited.

Profession: Reality TV star and model

What did they say?: ‘It will be fun, I want to challenge myself, I’m ready for the challenge.’

Partner: Molly Beth Lanaghan

What did they say?: ‘Anyone at work who I’ve spoken to has done it have all kind of the same thing that it is a great experience and it is really hard, and it’s tiring and tough but it is brilliant as well.’

What did they say? ‘I’ve not got any skating experience whatsoever, I did it once for a date years ago and I wasn’t very good, I was holding onto the railings the entire time and we aren’t together now.’

Profession: Television presenter

What did they say?: ‘It’s going to be a big challenge, I think the last time I was on ice was 14 years ago, because I trained as a dancer, I’ve got a bit of balance, but I have no idea whether I’m going to be good.’

What did they say?: ‘I’m looking forward to it but the thought of the live shows and performing is very real.’

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of Dancing on Ice 2025 which launches on ITV tonight.

Presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern are returning to the rink as this year’s cast of celebrities lace up their skates to show off their moves on the ice.

Join us as we guide you through tonight’s launch show with live updates, reaction plus the most striking pictures and videos from the episode.

Let us know your first impressions on our celebrity skaters in our comments section.

The show starts on ITV at 6.30pm.

Dancing On Ice 2025 is officially underway!

The launch episode has kicked off and we’ve been introduced once again to the 11 hopeful celebs who will be gracing the ice shortly.

Let us know who you’re most excited to see take to the rink in the comments section.