Showbiz

Stephen Mulhern signs up for a string of ITV shows but it’s a very different story for his Dancing On Ice co-star Holly Willoughby who is left without an ITV job for the first time in 21 years

Stephen Mulhern signs up for a string of ITV shows but it’s a very different story for his Dancing On Ice co-star Holly Willoughby who is left without an ITV job for the first time in 21 years

Stephen Mulhern has got a bright future with ITV, despite Dancing On Ice’s axing.

The star has renewed his contract with the broadcaster, with his schedule already packed with a string of ITV shows. 

Stephen’s close ties with the channel are in stark contrast to his Dancing On Ice co-star Holly Willoughby’s future, as it’s revealed that she has been left without an ITV primetime show for the first time in 21 years.

An insider has revealed of Stephen’s ITV career: ‘His 2025 schedule is already packed, with Celebrity Catchphrase and Deal or No Deal continuing to be solid favourites.’

The Sun report that he is also launching a brand-new travel show, Accidental Tourist, later this year, whilst he is also hoping for a second series of the You Bet! revival.

Holly has quit You Bet! after just one series, with the hunt on to find Stephen a replacement co-host. 

Stephen Mulhern has got a bright future with ITV, despite Dancing On Ice's axing. The star has renewed his contract with the broadcaster, with his schedule already packed

Stephen Mulhern has got a bright future with ITV, despite Dancing On Ice’s axing. The star has renewed his contract with the broadcaster, with his schedule already packed

ITV sources told the Mail Holly was ‘busy with other commitments’ after she branched out to host Celebrity Bear Hunt in her first big role away from ITV. 

A source told the Mail: ‘You Bet was so popular with the viewers wished it came back for two shows that ITV bosses decided to give it a full run.

‘Holly and Stephen are a great double act and they were both brilliant so they were asked back.

‘But Holly politely declined, she has other commitments and couldn’t make it work.

An ITV spokesman added: ‘Unfortunately Holly couldn’t commit to the dates to host the new series of You Bet!, but will hopefully appear as a guest panellist on one of the shows in the new series.’ 

Holly was ITV’s Golden Girl for many years and carved out her place as the fan favourite face of its top shows including This Morning and Dancing On Ice.

However, the presenter appears to be taking her TV career in a new direction as she is now without an ITV show following Dancing On Ice’s axing.

It is the first time that Holly has not had an ITV show on her schedule for the first time in more than two decades after becoming the broadcaster’s TV darling.

Stephen's close ties with the channel are in stark contrast to his DOI co-star Holly Willoughby, as it's revealed she has been left without an ITV primetime show for the first time in 21 years

Stephen’s close ties with the channel are in stark contrast to his DOI co-star Holly Willoughby, as it’s revealed she has been left without an ITV primetime show for the first time in 21 years

An insider has revealed of Stephen's ITV career: 'His 2025 schedule is already packed, with Celebrity Catchphrase and Deal or No Deal continuing to be solid favourites'

An insider has revealed of Stephen’s ITV career: ‘His 2025 schedule is already packed, with Celebrity Catchphrase and Deal or No Deal continuing to be solid favourites’

She has long been a familiar face on both ITV and ITV2, hosting on shows including Surprise Surprise, Celebrity Juice, The Games, The Xtra Factor and I’m A Celebrity.

Holly is arguably best known for having fronted This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield from 2009 until 2023, while she also helmed Dancing On Ice from 2006.

However, ITV viewers now won’t be able to get a dose of Holly as there has not yet been any public news of her having signed on to another project with the channel.

MailOnline has contacted ITV and Holly’s representatives for comment.

But Holly could be looking ahead to an exciting new future with Netflix as she was said to have impressed bosses hosting new reality TV series Celebrity Bear Hunt.

Insiders recently revealed that Netflix are ‘very keen’ to work with her more on shows, which would be screened across the world after her debut on Bear Grylls’ show.

A source told the Mail: ‘She is in demand and now she isn’t shackled to This Morning four days a week, she is able to look at more options, some are global.

‘Celebrity Bear Hunt was a huge thing for her, her first role with Netflix and she just loved it and they loved her so there could very well be much more where that came from. 

‘The world is now Holly’s oyster, there are so many opportunities for her.’

Holly has quit the ITV revival of You Bet! after just one series, with the hunt on to find Stephen a replacement co-host

Holly has quit the ITV revival of You Bet! after just one series, with the hunt on to find Stephen a replacement co-host

Holly has previously worked with other major British broadcasters, co-hosting Freeze The Fear with Wim Hof alongside Lee Mack on the BBC in 2022.

Holly’s career shake-up comes after it was revealed Dancing On Ice has been axed, with no plans for a new series in 2026.

Following the 2025 final, rumours had been swirling that the skating show was facing the axe, after staff reportedly told that their work on the show was over.

In a statement shared with MailOnline this week, an ITV spokesperson confirmed: ‘Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series.

‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the cast and crew who have worked on the show since 2006, and over the previous 17 series, for all of their hard work both on and off the ice.’

Since its inception in 2006, over 200 celebrities have competed on Dancing On Ice, with approximately 100 versions of the iconic Bolero costume made for stars who performed Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s famous skate.

The axing came after Dancing On Ice pulled in its lowest ever viewing figures in show history during its 2025 finale.

Ratings were the lowest ever after Coronation Street star Sam Aston was crowned winner of the 2025 compeтιтion.

Holly's career shake-up comes after it was revealed Dancing On Ice has been axed, with no plans for a new series in 2026

Holly’s career shake-up comes after it was revealed Dancing On Ice has been axed, with no plans for a new series in 2026

Despite the nail-biting final, the show saw just 2.7million viewers tune in – a huge decline at its peak of more than 12million.

The plummeting figures came after it was reported the show ‘would not be returning’ and staff had ‘already been told’ that their jobs are finished.

The show debuted on ITV in 2006, and former Coronation Street actress Gaynor Faye – who played Judy Mallett in the 1990s – won the inaugural series.

The format was rested in 2014 but returned to screens four years later, and has been aired in the early months of the year ever since.

Holly previously hosted the program with her former This Morning co-star Phillip before Stephen took over as her co-host.

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