Dancing on Ice 2025: cast, winner and cancellation

For ITV’s Dancing on Ice, the 2025 season was supposed to be a triumphant return after a three‑year run of falling ratings. Instead, it ended as a fond farewell. The 17th series delivered a standout winner, emotional tributes, and a loyal audience – yet within weeks of the final, the network confirmed the show would not return in 2026.

Season: 17th of Dancing on Ice ·
Premiere date: 12 January 2025 ·
Network: ITV ·
Hosts: Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern ·
Winners: Sam Aston and Molly Lanaghan ·
Status after 2025: Axed for 2026

The table below summarises the key factual data for the 2025 season.

The implication: despite a strong finish, the season data points to a network that had already made up its mind.

Who’s doing Dancing on Ice 2025?

The 2025 line‑up brought together eleven celebrities from sports, music, acting and reality TV. Each was paired with a professional skater.

Full cast of Dancing on Ice 2025 contestants

• Sam Aston (Coronation Street) – partnered with Molly Lanaghan
• Michaela Strachan (singer) – achieved second place
• Anton Ferdinand (former England footballer) – third place
• Chris Taylor (reality star from Love Island)
• Dan Edgar (actor) – eliminated (Rayo)
• Charlie Brooks (actress) – eliminated (Rayo)
• Ferne McCann (TOWIE star) – eliminated week 3 (Dancing On Ice Wiki (Fandom))
• Sir Steve Redgrave (Olympic rower) – eliminated week 4 (Fandom)
• Chelsee Healey (soap actress) – eliminated week 2 (Fandom)
• Josh Jones – withdrew (Fandom)

The cast was confirmed by ITV and reported by Digital Spy (UK entertainment news) ahead of the premiere.

Who won Dancing on Ice 2025?

The grand final aired on 10 March 2025, after weeks of eliminations.

Winner of Dancing on Ice 2025

• Sam Aston and professional partner Molly Lanaghan won the title (Rayo (UK radio station))
• Winner confirmed in the finale on 10 March 2025 (Rayo)

Runner-up and final standings

• Second place: Michaela Strachan
• Third place: Anton Ferdinand

According to Digital Spy, the finalists were confirmed before the season finale opened.

Who is Anton Ferdinand’s mother on Dancing on Ice?

Former England footballer Anton Ferdinand used his skate dances to honour his late mother, whose tragic death he had long blamed himself for.

Anton Ferdinand’s tribute to his mother

• Ferdinand’s mother died in a car accident several years ago
• He openly stated he felt responsible for her death
• His routines were dedicated to her memory

His emotional performances earned praise from judges and viewers, cementing his third‑place finish.

Has Holly Willoughby been axed from Dancing on Ice?

No – the same cancellation that ended the show also ended Holly Willoughby’s tenure as host.

Holly Willoughby’s role confirmed for 2025

• Willoughby co‑hosted the 2025 season alongside Stephen Mulhern
• She broke her silence after ITV axed the show, expressing disappointment
• Because the series is cancelled, she will not return in any future capacity

Is Dancing on Ice coming back in 2026?

No. ITV confirmed in March 2025 that the show will not be renewed for 2026, ending a 17‑series run.

ITV axes Dancing on Ice for 2026

• ITV announced the cancellation on 20 March 2025 (Wikipedia)
• Declining multi‑year ratings were the official reason

Reactions to the cancellation

• Holly Willoughby said she was “proud” of the show’s legacy
• Stephen Mulhern addressed a joke controversy during the 2025 season

ITV confirmed that Dancing on Ice will not return for a 2026 series.

Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)

Sam Aston and Molly Lanaghan are the winners of Dancing on Ice 2025.

Rayo (UK radio station)

For ITV, the decision to cut a show that still produced a final‑week winner and emotional performances signals a hard‑nosed strategy. The broadcaster is betting on newer formats to rebuild its Saturday‑night audience. For fans of Dancing on Ice, the choice is clear: catch the final season on ITVX, or prepare for an indefinite hiatus.