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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Dancing On Ice fans work out Phillip Schofield's replacement - and are delighted

Dancing On Ice think they've worked out just who will be replacing Phillip Schofield when the series returns next year.

Fans of the show think the person they predict will be announced as Phil's successor is the perfect fit and will be a major hit with viewers.

Former This Morning presenter Phil hosted the star-studded ITV reality TV show alongside his former pal Holly Willoughby from 2006, talking a brief break from 2014 until 2018.

But following the star's complete departure from ITV last month, after admitting to a historic affair with a younger This Morning runner, a space has opened up alongside Holly for the next series of the ice skating series.

Phil announced his Dancing On Ice departure when announcing his ITV exit on May 26, saying: "I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me."

Phillip Schofield had hoped to keep his Dancing On Ice role and other ITV commitments (Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
But Jane McDonald was the one to host the British Soap Awards earlier this month (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Jane McDonald stepped in and hosted the British Soap Awards instead of Phil earlier this month - something TV fans think is a tell-tale singer will be making her Dancing On Ice hosting debut next year.

"How long before Jane McDonald becomes the face of We Buy Any Car and presenter of Dancing On Ice? #SoapAwards," one ITV viewer mused as the awards aired on TV on Tuesday.

Another added: "Not a fan of Jane McDonald but she did an excellent job on the soap awards. First year I’ve enjoyed watching it in full. Never did before. Why can’t she present Dancing on Ice she would be better than the other one?"

"Can Jane McDonald present Dancing on Ice please? Imagine the glam, the jokes and a little number on the ice. IT MAKES SENSE #britishsoapawards2023," a third begged ITV bosses, with another fan of Jane's tweeting: "Jane McDonald and Stephen Mulhern for the next Dancing on Ice presenters. May as well get rid of Holly now Phil’s gone!"

Prior to Phil resigning from ITV completely, but after his This Morning exit, Dancing on Ice bosses issued a statement about the future of the show's presenting line-up.

"Dancing On Ice isn’t due on ITV until January 2024 and the series is not currently in production," a spokesperson told Metro.co.uk last month, adding "further announcements" will be made in "due course".

It had been thought Phil was determined to be involved in the 2024 series of Dancing On Ice - with or without Holly.

"Phil's [This Morning] fate was decided on Friday. It was a unanimous decision that he had to go," an ITV insider told the Mirror just hours after the presenter's This Morning departure.

"He was upset, but firm that if he was going to walk away he wanted to keep his roles on The Cube, the British Soap Awards, and Dancing on Ice – crucially, with or without Holly."

"And they agreed to the terms he laid out. As far as he was concerned, if he was going to take one for the team, they would owe him."

But just days later, Phil and ITV ended their working relationship and the star's exit from the channel was confirmed.

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