Dancing on Ice Season 16 Premiere: Celebrities Take to the Ice

A new season of Dancing on Ice is only hours away, with 12 new celebrity contestants set to take part in ITV’s hit figure skating competition. The series 16 premiere will mark Holly Willoughby‘s return to television; the former This Morning presenter quit the breakfast show last October, in the wake of co-host Phillip Schofield’s departure in May.

Willoughby, 42, will be joined by Deal or No Deal presenter, Noel Edmonds, who replaced Schofield when he quit the network after admitting an “unwise but not illegal affair” with a younger male colleague.

A star-studded lineup has been confirmed for season 16, which begins on Sunday 14 June, and includes musicians, actors, and winter Olympic stars. The Dancing on Ice premiere will see six celebrities take to the ice for the first live show:

– S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt

– Former Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas

– Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi

– Love Island‘s Amber Davies

– Former boxer Ricky Hatton

– Olympian Greg Rutherford

Additionally, Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, the former ski jumper, 60, stepped in to replace Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb after he suffered an injury. Edwards has also had his partner replaced by figure skater Vicky Ogden due to injury. Edwards rose to fame in 1988 when he became the first British ski jumper to compete at the Winter Olympics since 1928. His journey was made into the 2016 film Eddie The Eagle.

The former world champion boxer, Ricky Hatton, looks to overcome some fears as he takes on the ice with partner Robin Johnstone. Hatton officially retired from boxing in November 2012, before returning to the ring for an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.

Hannah Spearritt, the S Club 7 singer, will be partnered with professional skater and Cirque du Soleil ice show performer Andy Buchanan. Ryan Thomas, known for his role in Coronation Street, is paired with American model and figure skater Colin Grafton. Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi, partnered with German skater Sylvain Longchambon, overcame a training setback after dislocating her rib just days before the premiere.

Love Island’s Amber Davies, who has since made a successful career as an actor on the West End, will skate with Simon Senecal. Olympian Greg Rutherford will be partnered with Canadian skater Vanessa James. Additionally, celebrities such as Ricky Norwood, Josh Nazaire, and Ellie Taylor are set to compete in the upcoming season.

The premiere episode, airing on 14 January, promises a dazzling start to the competition as the celebrities showcase their skating skills and entertain the audience with their first routines. Dancing on Ice fans can expect a thrilling season as the celebrities battle it out for the coveted trophy.