Sam Aston and pro partner Molly Lanaghan were crowned Dancing On Ice’s 2025 champions after narrowly beating Michaela Strachan in what could be the ITV show’s last ever final on Sunday.
Anton Ferdinand and pro Annette Dytrt finished in third place before finalists Sam and Michaela battled it out while performing judge Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s iconic Bolero.
The Corrie actor, 31, was left stunned by the result after the Springwatch host, 58, had been bookies favourite to become the show’s oldest ever winner and first female champion in a whopping 12-years.
Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern just after his win was announced, Sam said: ‘I’ve literally got no words!’.
Just moments before, the soap star reflected that it had been ‘such a journey’ for himself and his professional partner.
Gushing: ‘It’s just been such a journey, and a mad one. And was always Molly’s dream to be on this show since watching it as a young girl’.
Sam Aston and pro partner Molly Lanaghan were crowned Dancing On Ice’s 2025 champions in what could be the ITV show’s last ever final on Sunday
The Corrie actor, 31, was left stunned by the result after the broadcaster, 58, had been bookies favourite to become show’s oldest ever winner and first female champion in 12-years.
Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern just after his win was announced, he said: ‘I’ve literally got no words!’
‘It has [gone quick] but then you see some of the older clips and it feels like forever ago, I dunno!’.
Meanwhile runner up Michaela said: ‘It’s been an amazing journey and I feel that I’m a winner to get this far with Mark. I’ve done it for the older women!’
Fans were equally shocked and took to X writing: ‘Stewards inquiry required There is no objective way in which #MichaelaStrachan was not the winner of #DancingOnIce’: ‘Should have been Michaela and Mark’: ‘Michaela was amazing from the beginning and a lady hasn’t won in 12 years’.
‘I don’t freaking believe that. What the hell. I can’t believe Michaela and Mark didn’t win DancingOnIce’: ‘Not happy with the winner Michaela deserved that trophy’: Nah, Michaela should have won. Can only come to the conclusion that most Dancing On Ice voters don’t like women. And I bet most of them are women themselves’.
Sam is one of many stars from ITV’s flagship soap to take part in the skating compeтιтion throughout its almost 20-year history, but is only the third cast member to actually win it.
Gaynor Faye – who played Judy Mallett in the late 1990s – won the first series in 2006, and Ryan Thomas took the trophy in 2024, eight years after he quit his role of Jason Grimshaw.
Earlier in the show, former footballer Anton said after finishing in third place: ‘I have enjoyed it and I wanna thank Annette for making it one less bit up and down.
‘It’s been up and down, but I have fully enjoyed this journey with Annette, so thank you very much.’
Just moments before, the soap star reflected that it had been ‘such a journey’ for himself and his professional partner
He said: ‘It’s just been such a journey, and a mad one. And was always Molly’s dream to be on this show since watching it as a young girl’ (pictured with hosts Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern)
The soap star couldn’t contain his emotional following his shock win and choked back tears
Sam proudly held the trophy in the air as gold confetti fell from the ceiling
(L-R) Oti Mabuse, Christopher Dean, Jayne Torvill, Molly Beth Langahan, Sam Aston, Stephen Mulhern, Holly Willoughby and Ashley Banjo
Anton Ferdinand and pro Annette Dytrt finished in third place before finalists Michaela and Sam both performed judge Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean ‘s iconic Bolero
Fans were equally shocked and took to X claiming Michaela had been ‘robbed’
Michaela and partner Mark went head to head with Sam in the Balero
The TV host looked totally at ease as she took to the ice one final time
Writing: ‘Not happy with the winner Michaela deserved that trophy’: ‘Nah, Michaela should have won;
But viewers were left fuming over the judges’ ‘appalling scoring’ following the ex footballer’s performance.
But after his showcase skate, Anton bagged a perfect score of 40 after judges Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean scored him 10.
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Despite the duo bagging top marks for the performance, they exited the final in third places after they received the least amount of votes from the public.
And this may not have come as a surprise because following his performance, they flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to brand the judges’ scores as ‘appalling’.
One penned: ‘Tens?! Yeah no wonder this show is ending lmao #DancingOnIce’ ‘What’s the point of the judging panel tonight?! #DancingOnIce’ ‘Are they having a f*****g laugh. 40!!!! Were the judges watching the same dance. Appalling scoring.’
‘That was never a 40 score. Sorry but this show has become a farce #DancingOnIce’ ‘not to be annoying but anton scoring 40 now puts him ahead of the likes of wes nelson, libby clegg, adele roberts, colin jackson etc. in terms of average score and that is why the show is being cancelled #DancingOnIce’
Sunday’s finale also saw the return of the eliminated celebs and also marked Torvill and Dean’s final onscreen performance, after announcing they were hanging up their skates.
The Olympians took to the ice for one final time with host Holly telling viewers: ‘We have a piece of television history for you.’
Sam’s win comes one year after former Corrie co-star Ryan Thomas was crowned champion
Sam and Molly performed a Pink Panther inspired routine
Meanwhile Michaela opted for a Don’t Rain On My Parade from musical Funny Girl as she used her Musical Theatre experience to her advantage
Anton, who is thebrother to sport legend Rio, took to the ice o perform Let’s Go Crazy by Prince
Earlier in the show, former footballer Anton said after finishing in third place: ‘I have enjoyed it and I wanna thank Annette for making it one less bit up and down’
But viewers were left fuming over the judges’ ‘appalling scoring’ following the ex footballer’s performance
Despite the duo bagging top marks for the performance, they exited the final in third places after they received the least amount of votes from the public
And this may not have come as a surprise because following his performance, they flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to brand the judges’ scores as ‘appalling’
Sunday’s finale also marked Torvill and Dean’s final onscreen performance, after announcing they were hanging up their skates
The Olympians took to the ice for one final time with host Holly telling viewers: ‘We have a piece of television history for you’
‘Since 2006, they have been performing on the Dancing On Ice rink and tonight they are taking to the ice together for their last ever TV performance’
While Stephen continued: ‘Torvill and Dean have been performing on TV for as long as many of us can remember. In 1984, their Olympic gold medal winning performance was watched by a mᴀssive 24 million people in the UK alone.’
‘Since 2006, they have been performing on the Dancing On Ice rink and tonight they are taking to the ice together for their last ever TV performance.’
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However, there was disappointment for one returning celebrity, who revealed they wouldn’t be able to put their skates back on after sustaining an injury.
Ferne McCann admitted she was ‘devastated’ not to be able to skate with her fellow contestants, as she revealed in an ironic twist that she had hurt herself at a rollerblading rink.
The former TOWIE star, 34, had been partnered with Brendyn Hatfield on the show, but became the second celebrity axed from the compeтιтion.
As host Holly caught up with the series contestants ahead of their group routine, Ferne showed her wrist was strapped into a brace, but clarified she would still take part in the performance.
Holly asked: ‘You’re actually not skating but you are performing?’ as Ferne explained: ‘Yes. I’m involved. I’m performing. I’m devastated that I can’t skate’.
She then admitted: ‘I fell, can you believe it, at a children’s rollerblading disco. Like, I can’t believe it. Wasn’t meant to be for me.’
The finale also saw the return of the eliminated celebs who took to the ice to perform one last time
Love Island’s Chris Taylor was reunited with partner Vanessa Bauer after she was forced to quit the compeтιтion due to an injury
But Ferne McCann admitted she was ‘devastated’ not to be able to skate with her fellow contestants, as she revealed in an ironic twist that she had hurt herself at a rollerblading rink
The former TOWIE star, 34, had been partnered with Brendyn Hatfield on the show, but became the second celebrity axed from the compeтιтion (pictured)
The mother-of-two did appear in the routine later on, but wearing a pair of strappy black stilettos rather than ice skates.
Instead of skating along with her co-stars, partner Brendyn carried Ferne over the ice and over to judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo.
While stars Mollie Pearce, Chris Taylor, Charlie Brooks, Chelsee Healey, Josh Jones, Steve Redgrave and Dan Edgar all took to the ice rink.
Host Holly, 44, looked ethereal in a white gown as she kicked off the live final in a white sparkly strapless dress which featured a structured bodice and a sweetheart neckline.
Her garment featured an ombré detailing from silver glitter to a floaty white tulle skirt which trailed along the floor.
For the show’s finale, Holly opted for a soft glam makeup look and styled her blonde tresses into lose waves.
Host Holly, 44, looked ethereal in a white gown as she kicked off the live final
She slipped into a white sparkly strapless dress which featured a structured bodice and a sweetheart neckline
During the show’s episode, Holly appeared excited to be hosting as she could be seen cracking a few jokes ahead of the celebrity performance
Seeming excited for the glitzy evening ahead, Holly took to her social media and dubbed tonight’s three finalists as champions.
The show’s future has been thrown into doubt with a source telling The Mirror there are concerns behind the scenes that falling viewership could spell the end for the skating series after 20 years on air.
Dancing On Ice has lost over a million viewers in the last two years, with its 2023 launch drawing in 4.1million yet no episode this series has made it above 3 Million.
A source 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.
An ITV spokeswoman told 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.’
