Dancing on Ice was back with a new series on Saturday night – but some viewers said they were turning off as they issued the same complaint seconds into the show’s big return. Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern were back hosting the ice-skating competition as the first six competitors took to the floor.
But before they even had a chance to perform, disgruntled viewers were angered by the loud cheers and whoops from the audience. They took to X to complain, with one writing: “2 minutes into #DancingOnIce and the audience whooing and cheering at nothing doing my head in.”
“#dancingonice has opened with loud fake applause and cheering. All the noise and the audience are unmoving. #DOI,” another said.
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A third added: “Haven’t watched a full episode of #DancingOnIce in years. Already had to switch off. The audience whooping and cheering every 15 seconds is too much to stomach.”
The 17th series of the hit ITV show was thrown into chaos weeks before it began with Paralympic grand champion Dame Sarah Storey sadly having to pull out due to an ankle injury sustained during rehearsals. She informed fans: ‘Whilst I can’t wear my left skating boot in time to take to the ice in January, I’m working with the team at ITV to come up with a plan for what’s next.
“And I’ll always be the biggest cheerleader of the awesome group that is the Class of 2025,” she wrote in a message to fans in December.
The full list of competitors include: former TOWIE star Ferne McCann, BBC The Traitors finalist Mollie Pearce, Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave, Coronation Street’s Sam Aston, EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, Comedian Josh Jones, footballing legend Anton Ferdinand, Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey, TOWIE star Dan Edgar, Love Island star Chris Taylor and wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan.
Dancing on Ice returns next Sunday night on ITV1 as the remaining six celebrities take to the ice.