Holly Willoughby is believed to be focusing on her work with the BBC and Netflix following the news that ITV have decided to axe Dancing On Ice after almost two decades

The axe of Dancing on Ice brings to a close, for now, Holly’s time on ITV(Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The decision to end Dancing on Ice brings to a close Holly Willoughby’s 21-year stint as an ITV presenter. As ITV bosses opt to axe the show after a 19-year run – as first reported by The Mirror earlier this month – it means that the former This Morning host no longer has any programmes with ITV, for the first time since 2004 when she started on CITV’s Ministry of Mayhem.

Earlier this month Holly, 44, pulled out of the second run of You Bet!, which is also co-hosted by Stephen Mulhern, because the filming dates clash with her Netflix series Celebrity Bear Hunt, made by her husband Dan Baldwin’s production company Hungry Bear.

ITV bosses have confirmed that Dancing on Ice, which first aired in 2006, is to end after viewing figures dwindled to below 2.5million for the last series. Judges Torvill and Dean have already announced they are hanging up their skates after the final dates of their tour in May.

An ITV spokesperson said: “Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series. 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.” Now, the set for the show is said to be being dismantled and placed into longterm storage following the decision to bring the show to an end.

Holly has new Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt to focus on for now

One insider said: “It’s true there is nothing for Holly in the pipeline at the moment but that is unlikely to remain the case in the longterm.ITV has a long and happy history with Holly, our viewers love her, and she’s sure to be back soon.”

Holly had hosted Dancing on Ice alongside Phillip Schofield from 2006 to 2011, when she quit to front The Voice on BBC1, and was replaced for three years by Christine Lampard. She then returned when the show was brought back after a four-year break in 2018, with Schofield being switched for Mulhern in 2023, following the former’s resignation from the channel.

Holly joined This Morning in 2009 and ended her long run as the show’s presenter in 2023, just a few months after Schofield’s departure. Last year she signed up for her first Netflix show with Celebrity Bear Hunt, which has now been ordered for a second run. As it embarks on its second outing, You Bet! is now set to be hosted solo by Mulhern, who also fronts Catchphrase and its celebrity spin-off for ITV.

Holly hosted This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield from 2009 until 2023 but in the end found it “easy” to walk away(Image: ITV)

Rumours that mum-of-three Holly had signed a £1million deal with ITV for a “trio of new shows”, reported in January, are wide of the mark. At the time it was said she was also being offered a new Saturday night entertainment show plus a quiz or gameshow as bosses “battled to keep their golden girl”. But insiders have confirmed that Holly has no current plans for new programmes on ITV.

Explaining that Holly was no longer a part of You Bet! earlier this month, an ITV spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately, Holly couldn’t commit to the dates to host the new series of You Bet!, but will hopefully appear as a guest panellist on one of the shows in the new series.”

Holly appeared on Ministry of Mayhem from 2004 to 2006 and during that time also appeared on other ITV shows for kids including Feal the Fear and Celebrity Wrestling. After that came Dancing on Ice, Streetmate and Saturday Night Takeaway from 2006, followed by Xtra Factor and Celebrity Juice in 2008 and then This Morning in 2009, where she stayed for 16 years.