Dancing On Ice faced viewer backlash after it's launch episode on Sunday, with fans claiming the ending was too 'abrupt' due to the new format change. 

Presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern are hosting the ITV show in which celebrities pair up with professional skaters to dance on an ice rink in front of judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo.

After half of the celebrities took to the ice for the first time, with the other half due to perform next week, Torvill and Dean closed out the ITV show's launch episode with a classic performance to Let The Good Times Roll.

The credits quickly followed with no results, after Stephen and Holly dropped the bombshell earlier in the show that there will be no Skate Off for the first two weeks of the show.

After everyone has performed, the couple with the fewest votes and lowest scores will be out straight away with no chance to skate off next week.

Dancing On Ice faced viewer backlash after it's launch episode on Sunday, with fans claiming the ending was too 'abrupt' due to the new format change

Dancing On Ice faced viewer backlash after it's launch episode on Sunday, with fans claiming the ending was too 'abrupt' due to the new format change

Torvill and Dean closed out the ITV show's launch episode with a classic performance to Let The Good Times Roll

Torvill and Dean closed out the ITV show's launch episode with a classic performance to Let The Good Times Roll

Fans took to social media shortly after the programme ended to complain of the 'rushed' finish, writing: 'I'm still convinced that #DancingOnIce needs to be on longer with less ads. 

'Back in the day it used to be 2 hours with minimal ads. Now it's 90 mins with poor formatting and a high volume of ads. Tonight's ending was terribly rushed and very abrupt! Change the format!'

'WOW! That was a very abrupt ending! #DancingOnIce.'

'No skate off so what is the point? #DOI #DancingOnIce.'

'If there is no skate off can we at least know the Bottom Two?! I swear Dancing On Ice loves to copy Dancing With The Stars in America #DancingOnIce.'

'No results of this week's votes - what is going on with the format? #DancingOnIce.'

'So if the voting is open and no skate off what is happening in the last 10 mins of show?!? #DancingOnIce.'

'What a pointless way to end the show #DancingOnIce.'

'Did someone just pull the plug because its 20:00 lol? #DancingOnIce.'

Elsewhere during the launch, viewers couldn't stop raving over Michaela Strachan's incredible performance.

The credits quickly followed with no results, after Stephen and Holly dropped the bombshell earlier in the show that there will be no Skate Off for the first two weeks of the show

The credits quickly followed with no results, after Stephen and Holly dropped the bombshell earlier in the show that there will be no Skate Off for the first two weeks of the show

Fans took to social media shortly after the programme ended to complain of the 'rushed' finish

Fans took to social media shortly after the programme ended to complain of the 'rushed' finish

Fans were quick to brand her the next 'first female winner in 12 years' after the wildlife presenter, 58, topped the leaderboard with a staggering 30.5 points.

The Springwatch host stunned people at home as well as judges while performing to Let's Do It from Cole Porter, alongside her skating pro partner Mark Hanretty.

It was a successful entrance for the former Countryfile star, who easily captured the nation's hearts.

Fans of the hit ITV series were over the moon and raced to show support commenting on X - where they branded Michaela a 'dark horse' and the 'performance of the night', penning:

'#DancingOnIce michaela did so good and slayed she then gets a 30.5 CHEERS EVERYONE';

'I give Michaela and Mark an 8.5. THIS WAS EXCEPTIONAL! The speed, the flow, the coverage of the ice, the transitions, the extensions into the fingertips, the pizazz, YOU ARE THE ONE TO BEAT! #DancingOnIce';

'I think Michaela Strachan is going to be great in this competition #DancingOnIce';

'So happy to see that Michaela is already a beautiful skater, I loved that!! I want more than anything for wonderful Mark to get to skate Bolero on the show - especially as this is his final year #DancingOnIce';

Elsewhere during the launch, viewers couldn't stop raving over Michaela Strachan's incredible performance

Elsewhere during the launch, viewers couldn't stop raving over Michaela Strachan's incredible performance

Fans were quick to brand her the next 'first female winner in 12 years' after the wildlife presenter, 58, topped the leaderboard with a staggering 30.5 points

Fans were quick to brand her the next 'first female winner in 12 years' after the wildlife presenter, 58, topped the leaderboard with a staggering 30.5 points

'Mark and Michaela were so good, Mark always brings the best out of his partners just like he did with Adele last year. #DancingOnIce';

'That was really nice from Michaela. #DancingOnIce';

'Michaela is definitely the best so far, a cute routine that's how you do a mix of solo and partner skating #DancingOnIce';

'I knew it. Solo skating, great performance. Michaela Strachan is our first female Dancing on Ice winner in 12 years #DancingOnIce';

'Cracking start Michaela! #DancingOnIce';

Dancing On Ice continues on Sunday at 6:30pm on ITV One 

DANCING ON ICE 2025: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

FERNE MCCANN 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: Reality TV star 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'I'm so excited, it's going to be a huge challenge but I'm excited for the glitz and glamour of the show.'

SIR STEVE REDRGAVE

AGE: 62

PROFESSION: Former Olympic rower 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? 'It's like going back to being an athlete again, I've been competing most of my life.'

CHARLIE BROOKS 

AGE: 43

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'I've skated when I was a kid and with mulled wine at Christmas. Until I get on the ice I have no idea how I'm going to be. I'm not that strong.'

 

 ANTON FERDINAND

 AGE: 39

PROFESSION: Footballer and pundit

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: Dancing On Ice will give me that focus but I'm also doing it for my daughter because she loves dance and performing arts.'

 

 CHRIS TAYLOR

Age: 34

PROFESSION: Reality star

 WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'I'm somewhere between absolutely terrified and very excited and I keep flitting between the two quite aggressively throughout the day. I've not even started stretching yet, I need to.'

 

CHELSEE HEALEY 

 AGE: 36

PROFESSION: Actress

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'I'm ready, I'm good to go, let's go! I've got a bit of rhythm but skating on ice is completely different, I'm excited. 

MOLLIE PEARCE 

 AGE: 22

PROFESSION: Reality TV star and model

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'It will be fun, I want to challenge myself, I'm ready for the challenge.'

SAM ASTON 


AGE: 31 

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'Anyone at work who I've spoken to has done it have all kind of the same thing that it is a great experience and it is really hard, and it's tiring and tough but it is brilliant as well.'

JOSH JONES

AGE: 31

PROFESSION: Comedian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? 'I've not got any skating experience whatsoever, I did it once for a date years ago and I wasn't very good, I was holding onto the railings the entire time and we aren't together now.'

 

 MICHAELA STRACHAN 

 

 AGE: 58

PROFESSION: Television presenter

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'It's going to be a big challenge, I think the last time I was on ice was 14 years ago, because I trained as a dancer, I've got a bit of balance, but I have no idea whether I'm going to be good.'

 

DAN EDGAR 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: TOWIE star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'I'm looking forward to it but the thought of the live shows and performing is very real.'

 

DAME SARAH STOREY 

AGE: 46

PROFESSION: Paralympian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: 'I'm excited to learn a new skill and have the opportunity to put myself out there and learn a new sport.'