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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

Dancing On Ice fans stunned over 'brutal' format change as hosts make announcement

Dancing On Ice 2023 viewers called the series "brutal" on Sunday night, after the show announced a major format change.

For the first time ever, the skate-off was axed and there was going to be no bottom two.

Normally, the judges' scores are combined with the public vote, and the two stars at the bottom of the leaderboard must skate again.

It's then up to judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse to save someone and send the other home.

On Sunday night, hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield confirmed a change to proceedings that could affect who goes home.

Dancing On Ice hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield confirmed there would be no skate-off (ITV)

It was confirmed that no skate-off would be held at the end of the show, and so there was no chance for anyone to perform better to stay on the show.

After the judges give their scores, the voting will open for the public to have their say and save who they want to.

Once that result is in it will be combined with the judges' scores from earlier to reveal which skating star is at the bottom.

That star will be axed from the show immediately in a brutal twist, with no chance to perform again.

Phillip announced at the start of the show: "Tonight there are no second chances. The lowest placed couple will go straight out of the competition. For one week only there is no skate-off to save them."

As the crowd sounded uncertain about the move, Holly said: "I know, it's brutal!"

Dancing On Ice 2023 viewers called the series "brutal" on Sunday night (ITV)

Viewers watching at home took to Twitter, as one viewer said: "It’s brutal there’s no skate off."

Another tweeted: "No skate off, lowest score leaves the competition, this is going to be brutal."

A third fan added: "No skate off?!?!" while, a fourth viewer wrote: "No skate off. No point."

It comes after John Fashanu became the first star to leave the series last weekend, as he lost the dreaded skate-off against Love Island winner against Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.

It was confirmed that no skate-off would be held at the end of the show (ITV)

As both celebrities and their professional skating partners, Brendyn Hatfield and Alexandra Schauman, performed one more time for the panel, they all agreed that John would be going home first.

John had joked seconds earlier that he knew he hadn't done enough to stay on the show, while Ekin-Su was visibly relieved to make it through after a tough first week.

She had vowed to prove herself in the skate-off, working hard after being left "upset" over the public vote the week before.

It follows the show receiving over 100 Ofcom complaints last week over the previous episode, following Ekin-Su's sexy routine and outfit.

Dancing On Ice airs Sundays at 6:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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