Holly Willoughby kicks off week 2  alongside host Stephen Mulhern on Dancing On Ice

Ricky Hatton is the first celebrity to be eliminated from Dancing On Ice 2024 on Sunday after facing the dreaded skate off with Lou Saunders.

Judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo chose to save Lou after she danced her second performance of the night.

Last week, Ricky, 45, and his partner Robyn Johnstone landed bottom of the leaderboard after he was scored 12.5 points, while Lou, 38, and her partner Brendyn Hatfield was awarded a higher 19.5 during Sunday’s show. 

Meanwhile, Adele Roberts, 44, and Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, 59, topped the leaderboard after scoring an incredible 27.5 points each.

Holly Willoughby once again hosted alongside co-host Stephen Mulhern for the second week running.

Jayne and Christopher also graced the ice during the show with a brilliant performance for the first time of the series.

After Lou’s first performance before she faced the skate off, Oti said: ‘One thing I really wanted you to work on is your core. Sometimes you were wobbling so If you work on activating that and strengthening your body, it will be brilliant.’

Chris added: ‘But you done the most solo skating out of everyone. All good things, but like Oti said it is like the core.’ 

Last week, the first six couples wowed judges with their first skate of the series in the competition with Ryan Thomas coming out top of the leaderboard.

This week, Adele, Claire Sweeney, Eddie ‘The Eagle’, Lou, Miles Nazaire, Ricky Norwood all performed their well-practised dances.

Adele received an impressive 27.5 points for her uplifting routine alongside her partner Mark Hanretty – despite Mark’s tumble on the ice.

The Radio One presenter, 42, gave an emotional introduction to the show, hailing her reason for joining as ‘a celebration of life’ following her bowel cancer battle.

The pair skated to the song I Can See Clearly Now, but there was one unsteady moment as Mark skidded on the ice and briefly fell.

Judge Chris joked about the tumble during his scoring, saying he gave Adele 7.5 and Mark 6.5.

Adele’s girlfriend Kate Holderness was in tears as she along with others gave the pair a standing ovation. 

Commenting on her emotional performance, she said: ‘What an absolute dream, everything I have been through it was worth it for this moment.’

Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards received 27.5 for his ‘unexpected’ routine alongside partner Vicky Ogden. 

Chris said: ‘Eddie you are no longer an underdog, you are a contender. That was funny, energetic, cheeky. We’re going to have to think about the big lifts going forward.’

Ashley added: ‘I was not expecting that. The moment you started I was like “Oh wow, you can skate”, I think it might be my favourite skate so far’.

Jayne added: ‘A great, great performance. You have no dance training, the skating was great!’

Oti said: ‘I loved everything about it. We were in that performance with you, what a way to end the show’. 

The British ski jumper, who’s real name is Michael Edwards, is now partnered with professional skater Vicky Ogden, after his previous partner Tippy suffered an injury. 

Eddie was brought in as a last minute replacement after Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb broke his ankle in the first week of rehearsals and had to withdraw from the competition. 

Claire was the first celebrity to skate in this week’s show alongside her partner Colin Grafton.

The judges scored the actress 22 points after she danced on the rink to Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero.

After her performance opening the show, Christopher Dean said: ‘I really enjoyed that Claire, there is something about the elegance you have on the ice. You have a soft knee bend, keep doing that. But we need more speed and attack on the ice.’

Made In Chelsea’s Miles, 28, performed an excellent dance with his skating partner Vanessa Bauer, 27.

The judges scored the couple a total of 26 points, praising the TV personality ‘really good on the ice’ despite not having any dancing or acting history.

Oti said: ‘For someone who doesn’t perform, this is an absolutely brilliant performance. Well done.’

Chris added: ‘First of all, you two look really good on the ice. You kept up with Vanessa, a lot of her partners have a problem of keeping up with her, but you were really great.’

Ricky Norwood, 40, and his partner Annette Dytrt received 20 points off the judges after dancing to Body Groove.

On the former EastEnders star’s performance, Ashley said: ‘My score is based on your vibe, your energy but I think what the other scores represent is that your energy isn’t exactly in line with your feet yet.’

Jayne said: ‘The footwork needs to be neater and more precise, so good luck.’

 

Before the show kicked off, Holly cut an elegant figure in a one-shoulder pink gown as she shared her traditional pre-show outfit snap.

As she prepares to grace the stage for a second week running, Holly, 42, took to Instagram to show off her glamorous attire.

She stunned in a chic maxi dress which detailed an animated bow on her shoulder, while she teamed her look with matching pink nails.

The TV presenter captioned her post: ‘On Sundays we wear pink! @DancingOnIce 6:30pm on @itv… see you soon’.

Holly recently shared a poignant post about ‘blossoming in dark times’ after making her TV comeback the ITV show. 

Holly had been absent from screens for more than two months before returning to co-host the ITV skating competition alongside Stephen.

Holly had a break from TV after quitting This Morning in October after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.

After her TV comeback, Holly’s lifestyle brand Wylde Moon shared an Instagram post about ‘resilience, strength’ and ‘blossoming in dark times’.

Posting a picture of a moonflower on their Stories, the caption read: ‘The moonflower has become a symbol of blossoming in dark times.

‘These fragrant, white flowers have evolved over millions of years to open only at night and their ethereal, nocturnal beauty is a powerful symbol of how resilience, strength and growth can flourish during the darkest and most challenging moments.’

According to The Sun, Holly re-shared the post to her own Instagram Stories, alongside the words: ‘Even in the dark… she grows… nature is beautiful.’

Holly returned to TV screens for the Dancing On Ice launch show on Sunday as she made her debut with her new co-host Stephen, who has replaced Phillip Schofield.

Holly had been absent from screens for nearly three months, ever since she left This Morning in October after 14 years on the sofa.

She quit the show after an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her emerged, which followed Phillip Schofield leaving ITV after his affair with a younger show runner came to light.

Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting murder and incitement to commit kidnap the former This Morning host. The security guard will remain behind bars after being denied bail.

During a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Gavin Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, who was not present, was refused a bail application. He has a trial date fixed for June 24 next year.

Dancing On Ice bosses were said to have offered Holly heightened security and wanted to make sure she felt completely ‘secure’ on the show, according to The Sun.

The publication also claimed that Holly has signed a one-year rolling contract with an option to step back in the future in case she wants a longer break.

Holly signed a deal over Christmas after weeks of deliberating over whether to present the show, and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show that she previously hosted with her former friend Phillip.

An ITV insider told MailOnline: ‘Holly is a star and everyone was so very much hoping that she would decide to come back.

‘After many discussions and a lot of thought, she thought that getting some normality into her life would be a good thing.

‘There are obvious worries about going on live television, her main priority is her family, ITV have been hugely understanding and have not put any pressure on her at all.

‘They wanted to give her all of the time she needed but it has been a rough decision for her. Time was ticking but the bosses were trying to remain calm.’

As she returned to TV last week, an expert told The Sun she appeared ‘more grown up’ and could ‘relaunch her career’ with a move to her own solo show in the future.

Expert Nick Ede told the publication: ‘Having her back on our screens establishes her as a leading broadcaster in the UK. It felt like it was her show – she owned the rink.

‘She’s not Queen of daytime TV anymore – it looks like she’s Queen of primetime. It felt like Holly had somehow matured and I can see her branching into more serious stuff now.

‘She’s always been able to do light entertainment with serious topics on This Morning and I can now see her doing documentaries or big sit-down interviews with stars, which would be really compelling viewing.’