Dancing on Ice viewers detect Holly Willoughby change in ITV series

Fans are welcoming the new era of the show with open arms

ITV viewers are highlighting a change in Dancing on Ice following Holly Willoughby’s return to ITV.

Willoughby, who quit This Morning in October 2023, made her comeback to screens earlier this year, reuniting with her former Ministry of Mayhem co-host Mulhern.

Mulhern, who currently hosts the reboot of Deal or No Deal, stepped in as presenter of the skating competition after a scandal saw Phillip Schofield cut ties with ITV, with a fresh crop of celebrities and their pro partners – not including a star who was forced to drop out – performing on the rink after weeks of training.

After each episode of the new series, fans have been highlighting what they believe to be a positive change for the show.

Viewers of the show have been flooding social media with praise for both Willoughby and Mulhern, with many commending the duo’s on-screen chemistry, and saying their combination has infused the series with “more energy”.

“I love you and Stephen presenting together,” one fan wrote, adding “You’re both brilliant and so much fun.”

An additional viewer added: “Such great chemistry between these two. I love it,” with others noting the pair “work very well together”, and calling the show “much better now”.

“You guys are great together, great presenting duo, it’s put a different spin on Dancing on Ice, such lovely Sunday night TV,” another chimed in, with one post reading: “Wish you two had presented it before, you just make it so much more fun..not that it wasn’t good before, just has more energy.”

Welcoming Mulhern to the show on 14 January, Willoughby said: “We are off! Welcome to the greatest show on ice, And also can we just say a huge welcome to Stephen Mulhern!”

Holly Willoughby leaves ‘Dancing on Ice’ co-host Stephen Mulhern suspended in midair in joke behind-the-scenes photograph (Instagram)

It is not the first time the pair have presented Dancing on Ice together. In 2022, prior to Schofield stepping away from ITV, Mulhern briefly co-hosted the programme with Willoughby after Schofield tested positive for Covid-19.

Willoughby made her debut on the ice skating competition alongside Schofield in 2006.

Ahead of the latest episode, contestant Ricky Norwood seemingly addressed reports of behind-the-scenes tensions with his professional aprtner, with whom he allegedly clashed days before.

Dancing on Ice continues on Sunday at 6.20pm on ITV1 and ITVX.