Dancing on Ice judge Oti Mabuse has fuelled the show’s recent cancellation rumours with a cryptic “final” post. The hit ITV skating competition’s 17th series has almost reached its conclusion, with Michaela Strachan, Anton Ferdinand, and Sam Aston set to battle it out in tonight’s (March 9) grand final.
It has recently been reported that the show could be facing the axe this year after sinking to its lowest-ever ratings—a far cry from its heyday when over 12 million people tuned in.
The cast hasn’t yet addressed the rumors, but Judge Oti has sparked suspicion among fans after posting a heartfelt tribute ahead of tonight’s final.
The professional dancer, who joined the ice panel in 2022, took to this afternoon to share a carousel of images of her outfits from across the series.
“The BIG FINAL is here! Four years of Dancing on Ice – what an incredible journey! From jaw-dropping performances to unforgettable moments, I love every single second of being part of this magical show,” the caption began.
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Dancing on Ice judge Oti Mabuse posted a heartfelt tribute to the show on Sunday (March 9) (Image: ITV)
“A massive THANK YOU to the entire team, my fellow judges, the pro skaters, and of course, the brave celebrities who have given their all on the ice. And to YOU, the amazing viewers – your support means everything!”
Oti concluded: “Tonight, we crown our champion… Who’s ready for a spectacular show? Let’s gooo!”
Several Dancing on Ice fans have noted the “wording” of the post, and many have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to share their suspicions that the show could indeed be ending.
“Oti’s post makes it sound like this is the final series which can’t say I’m that surprised low viewership and the cost of the show probably been the deal breaker #dancingonice we wait and see of course maybe one final all star series,” one person wrote.
“#DancingonIce is defo stopping… I can just tell by the wording of Oti’s post,” another added, while a third shared their hopes for the show’s end: “I hope it’s the last #DancingonIce tonight, it’s time to put it to rest now.”
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There have been rumours that Dancing on Ice could be ending (Image: ITV)
Last year, the show scored its smallest live audience ever when only 2.9 million people tuned into one episode – a staggering drop of 700,000 from the opener a few weeks earlier. This year, 2.9 million people watched the launch, with only 2.4 million still tuning in by the fifth episode.
A source previously told The Mirror: “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.”
Following the cancellation rumours, an ITV spokeswoman later explained to the publication: “The Dancing on Ice team is fully concentrating on the much anticipated series finale this coming Sunday and therefore no decision has been made.”
Dancing on Ice airs on ITV1 and ITVX