Dancing on Ice

Dancing on Ice is a British TV program hosted by Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley, where celebrities pair up with professional skaters to perform routines in front of a judging panel. Created by LWT and Granada Television, this format has been a prime-time success in eight countries, including Italy and Chile. In Australia, it was known as Torvill and Dean’s Dancing on Ice but was discontinued after one season due to high production costs.

Initially called Skating with Celebrities, the show was rebranded after ITV’s celebrity-focused summer lineup in 2005 didn’t perform well. Dancing on Ice is often likened to the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. In 2004, the BBC aired a special called Strictly Ice Dancing during Christmas, which was won by England’s goalkeeper David Seaman.

ITV launched the show in January, despite concerns about its potential success, but it unexpectedly became a hit in the UK, ranking as the third most-watched TV show in 2006. The finale in March drew an impressive audience of thirteen million. Renowned ice-skating champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean coach the contestants and provide feedback throughout the series. Head Coach Karen Barber also prepares the skaters for the live performances. Torvill and Dean traditionally open each episode with a performance, except for a few episodes in the fourth series when Torvill performed solo due to Dean’s shoulder surgery recovery. In 2012, their appearances became less frequent.