The sequins are getting sparklier, the spray tans more intense, and the potential for on-ice wipeouts exponentially greater. Yes, it’s another week of Dancing on Ice, and this time, the theme is movies. The ten remaining celebrity-professional pairs will attempt to translate cinematic magic onto the ice, hopefully without too many face-plants or wardrobe malfunctions. Expect dramatic lifts, interpretive spins, and maybe even a tearjerker or two, depending on the chosen film scores.
Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern return as hosts, providing their usual blend of reassuring smiles and slightly awkward banter. Meanwhile, the judging panel – Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill, and Christopher Dean – will cast their critical eyes over the performances. Will they be moved by the emotional depth of a Titanic-themed routine? Or will a Fast and Furious-inspired number leave them cold? Only time will tell (or rather, only the judges’ scores will).
Adding to the spectacle, the professional skaters will perform a routine inspired by the musical Wicked. One can only hope for some gravity-defying acrobatics and perhaps a cameo by a flying monkey or two. This episode will offer a welcome distraction from the January blues, though the combination of sharp blades and celebrity inexperience could result in some cringeworthy moments. Let’s hope the movie magic outweighs the potential for disaster.
Dancing on Ice airs Sunday, January 26 at 6:25 pm on ITV1.