Former Strictly star James Jordan has spoken out

James took part in Dancing on Ice after being a pro on Strictly (Image: ITV)

Former Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan has revealed the one way believes ITV’s Dancing on Ice can be saved from cancellation. Rumours have been circulating that ITV bosses are set to axe the show amid a drop in ratings.

However, ex Dancing on Ice contestant James believes there is a way to save the show – a revamp of the judging panel. He told the Mirror: “They might want to shake up the judging panel. The show needs someone who isn’t afraid to, not necessarily be controversial, but not afraid to tell people the truth.”

He highlighted the issue with uniform high scores from the judges, questioning their authenticity. “Right now, when everyone’s scoring 10s, you find yourself wondering, ‘Was that really a 10?’ A judge willing to give an eight and love the boos would add balance,” he said.

The current Dancing on Ice judging panel lacks a ‘villain’ according to James (Image: ITV)
While he commended the current judges as individuals, James feels there’s a missing element of excitement. “I love the current panel individually, but when Jason Gardiner was there, he was the one you really wanted to impress – just like Craig [Revel Horwood] on Strictly. If you won Craig over, you knew you had the rest.”

He believes that Dancing on Ice could benefit from a “panto villain” judge to create drama and controversy, thus enhancing the show’s appeal. He said: “Dancing on Ice is missing that kind of ‘panto villain’ judge, and a bit of controversy could give it an extra spark.”

James suggests that by bringing in a judge who isn’t afraid to challenge contestants, Dancing on Ice could regain its edge and keep audiences engaged. The 2025 ‘judges’ line-up included Oti Mabuse, Ashley Banjo, Jayne Torvill, and Christopher Dean.

After Sunday night’s finale, which marked the end of the show’s 17th series, Oti posted a cryptic ‘final’ message, sparking rumours that the ITV show might be winding down.The programme has been struggling with low ratings, a far cry from its heyday when it attracted over 12 million viewers, leading to speculation about its possible cancellation. While the cast has remained silent on these rumours, judge Oti’s recent Instagram tribute to the series has certainly turned heads.

A source 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.”