Dancing On Ice axed by ITV after 19 years on air following 'lowest ratings ever'

ok.co.uk:

Dancing on Ice has been axed as ITV has decided not to bring the show back for its 20th anniversary next year.The Mirror had the scoop earlier this month, and now it's official: after a 19-year stint, the ice-skating competition is hanging up its skates.This means that Holly Willoughby, who first graced ITV in 2004 with CITV's Ministry of Mayhem, will be without any shows on the network for the first time in years.

The decision comes as ratings have taken a tumble, with less than 3 million viewers tuning in for the latest series. Even the star-studded judging panel featuring ice legends Torvill and Dean, who are set to retire after their tour ends in May, couldn't keep the numbers up.

The most recent finale, which saw Coronation Street's Sam Aston take the trophy, only managed to attract 2.7 million viewers – a far cry from the heyday when around 12 million fans watched the show.

An ITV spokesperson shared: "Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series.", reports the Mirror.They added a note of gratitude: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the cast and crew who have worked on the show since 2006, and over the previous 17 series, for all of their hard work both on and off the ice." With the show's conclusion, the iconic set is reportedly being dismantled and tucked away into long-term storage.