Dancing On Ice ‘facing the axe in days’ after viewing figures crash with distraught staffers told ‘the show is over’
DANCING On Ice is facing the axe, it was claimed last night, just as Corrie’s Sam Aston was crowned winner of this year’s show.
Insiders say bosses will make a decision this week about the future of the ITV mainstay which is fronted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern.
Viewing figures have crashed from a peak of 12million and only around a quarter of that were watching as Sam, 31, beat TV host Michaela Strachan 58, and ex-footie star Anton Ferdinand, 40, in a tense finale.
Insiders add that it is costly to produce and may need a revamp as it had after it was withdrawn in 2014 before relaunching four years later.
A source said: “The staffers on Dancing On Ice are saying the show is over and claim they’ve been told as much.
“It’s a mainstay of ITV’s schedule and viewing figures are remarkably less than they were but they still had almost three million watch the launch show.
“There’s no denying, though, that the format has become tired and they’re not getting the big names they once did.
“Changes are needed and it’s likely it’ll be rested and given a new lease of life.”
The source added: “The show’s future hinges on the meetings that follow last night’s finale.
“Dancing On Ice is an expensive production and there are questions over whether ITV is getting bang for its buck.
“Staff working on it aren’t holding out much hope.”
Olympic dance champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean hinted they were unsure about its future and will no longer perform on the show.
Christopher said: “If Dancing On Ice continues, we will just come back as judges.” He explained that 50 years of dancing “takes its toll on the body”.
Former show contestant and ex-Strictly professional Brendan Cole said recently the format must alter.
He said: “They haven’t really changed anything.
“There’s something missing, something that Strictly has.”
Bookies last night slashed their odds on the show being axe from 4/11 to 1/2.
ITV said: “The Dancing on Ice team has been fully concentrating on the much anticipated series finale and therefore no decision has been made.”