The Sunday night series, presented by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, is likely to be dropped for next year after it has struggled in the ratings, according to sources within the channel,

Fans are advised to savour the upcoming Dancing on Ice final, as it could potentially be the last episode of the show.

Judges Torvill and Dean have already bid farewell to their skates following an emotional live performance on the ITV programme last month.

According to sources within the channel, the Sunday night series, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, is likely to be axed next year due to plummeting ratings – a stark contrast to its peak when it attracted 12 million viewers.

Last year, the show recorded its lowest ever live audience with only 2.9 million tuning in for one episode, a decrease of 700,000 from the 3.6 million who watched the season premiere weeks earlier.

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This year, the launch episode managed to draw in just 2.9 million viewers, and by the fifth episode, another half a million had switched off, leaving a mere 2.4 million.

This indicates that over the past two years, Dancing on Ice has lost more than a million viewers, with the 2023 launch attracting 4.1 million viewers but this series failing to surpass 3 million, according to official overnight ratings from BARB.

An insider said: “There are very real fears this is the end of the road for Dancing on Ice.

“It’s had a good run for nearly 20 years and has a very loyal set of viewers who really love it but the sad truth is there’s just not enough of them.

“We need bums on seats but the ratings have dropped to a point where it’s difficult to justify the cost.”

The dozen celebrity contestants often receive six-figure payouts due to the extensive training required for their performances, reports the Mirror.

Big bucks are also shelled out for hosts Holly and Stephen, twelve pro ice-skaters, and four judges, including skating icons Torvill and Dean, as well as Strictly’s Oti Mabuse and dance aficionado Ashley Banjo.

Additionally, there’s the upkeep of the bespoke rink at Bovingdon Airfield in Hertfordshire.

Addressing the speculation, an ITV spokeswoman clarified to The Mirror: “The Dancing on Ice team is fully concentrating on the much anticipated series finale this coming Sunday and therefore no decision has been made.”

She highlighted that when you factor in catch-up views, the current season averages three million viewers, with a notable 3.6 million streams on ITVX.

Michaela Strachan, partnered with Mark Hanretty, is currently the favourite to win next Sunday’s trophy, according to bookmakers who have her odds at evens. If she does clinch the title, she’ll be the first female victor since gymnast Beth Tweddle in 2013.

The BBC wildlife presenter is the only woman left in the competition, going up against Corrie’s Sam Aston, TOWIE’s Dan Edgar and ex-footballer Anton Ferdinand. Meanwhile, ice skating legends Torvill and Dean have officially ended their live performances, having wrapped up their final tour.

A year ago, when they announced their retirement from the rink, they stated: “We have no plans to step back from Dancing On Ice and hope that the series continues for years to come.”

The show first aired in 2006 but concluded after its ninth season in 2014, when Torvill and Dean decided to exit “on a high” following the 30th anniversary of their Bolero victory. “I think there comes a time when you know we’re not spring chickens any more,” Christopher commented then.

“We’re still able to do it, to a certain degree we feel good about it, but that will go.”

The show made a comeback four years later, with the duo transitioning from mentors to judges – a role they’ve held ever since. Even if the show doesn’t return in 2026, it’s not all doom and gloom for Stephen and Holly, who are slated to produce more episodes of the revived gameshow You Bet later this year.