Dancing on Ice fans were talented an extremely unique reward today when it was formally verified that Holly Willoughby would be going back to provide the program, this time along with Stephen Mulhern.
Up up until the main statement, doubts had actually been raised about whether Holly would be going back to the program following her departure from Today previously this year. It has actually now been validated that the star will continue in her renowned Dancing on Ice function, this time along with her previous CITV co-host Stephen.
Katie Rawcliffe, head of home entertainment commissioning at ITV, stated: “Holly and Stephen are 2 of our finest enjoyed speakers, so reuniting them 20 years after they initially appeared on screen together to host Dancing On Ice marks the start of an amazing year for the program.”
The collaboration likewise brings with it a particularly poignant twist in 2024, as it will mark 20 years considering that the set initially provided along with each other on Saturday early morning program Ministry of Mayhem, which notoriously took control of the SM: television Live slot from providing legends Ant and Dec.
Here, we take a closer appearance back at their relationship throughout the years …
Ministry of Mayhem
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern initially crossed courses all the method back in January 2004, when the couple introduced Saturday Morning kids reveal, Ministry of Mayhem on ITV.
The program, which later on ended up being called Holly & & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown, saw the vibrant duo frequently connect with their young audiences in a range of spoofs while likewise offering links in between a selection of programs that included My Parents are Aliens, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, SpongeBob Squarepants and All Grown Up! to call simply a couple of.
The program ran for 2 years in overall, with the very first year likewise seeing Michael Underwood present along with the duo up until he stepped far from the program on 18 December 2004 to sign up with GMTV rather.
The last episode aired on 1 July 2006 and ended Holly and Stephen’s on-screen period together.
Viral Kiss
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
While collaborating on Ministry of Mayhem, Holly and Stephen shared one unusual joyful exchange in which Stephen kissed Holly 5 times on the lips in a minute that later on went viral.
Throughout a spoof, Holly unwrapped a Christmas present at her co-star’s demand which consisted of a Christmas hat with mistletoe dangling from the front.
Plainly entertained, Holly then stated: “Hooray for me! I can kiss all the kids worldwide all the time.”
Right away after the statement, Stephen embraced a kiss himself, triggering Holly to inform him: “You do not count.”
Reluctant to confess defeat, Stephen then informed Holly: “Whoever you’re below the mistletoe with, you need to kiss” and provided another peck.
The very same behaviour continued and after growing significantly disappointed, Holly removed the hat and stated that Stephen was “absolutely on the naughty list.”
Off-screen relationship
(Image: WireImage)
The kiss might have raised some eyebrows amongst audiences a home, it plainly didn’t appear to faze either Holly or Stephen as their relationship off-screen continued long after their presenting days had actually ended on the program.
Reviewing her time providing the program with Stephen, Holly informed The Daily Mail back in 2019: “There were times when we went directly from the hotel bar to going survive on air.
“Everyone in kids’s television beverages up until 5am. If you ruin, nobody cares. It got a bit too wild when my breast popped out of my gown.
“It does not assist when you check out the script and you’ve got to consume anchovies in custard with some 8 years of age. No matter how hard you scrub in the shower, you can’t get the odor of custard pie off your skin.”
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/ Shutterstock)
After parting methods 2006, Holly and Stephen continued to preserve a close bond with Stephen even going on to expose how his previous co-star was constantly the one he might turn to for guidance when confronted with an issue.
Explaining her as a “correct mate”, Stephen even opened to The Sun about the set’s sustaining relationship back in 2014.
He informed the publication: ‘”Ant and Dec, Emma Willis and Holly Willoughby appertain mates. That’s about it.
“If I had an issue I ‘d go to Holly, and if I desire guidance that makes no sense and most likely makes things even worse, I’ll ask Ant and Dec.”
Over the previous years, unfortunately Holly and Stephen have actually hardly ever crossed courses on screen, however have actually sometimes handled to reunite on Celebrity Juice, This Morning and Dancing On Ice
Dancing on Ice
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/ Shutterstock)
Since January 2024, Holly and Stephen will as soon as again be going back to their providing roots as they sign up with forces to provide the current series of Dancing on Ice.
The set are the main hosts this series, eagle-eyed audiences might remember this isn’t the very first time Stephen has actually provided the program together with Holly, as he formerly stepped in to the function last year to offer cover for previous host Phillip Schofield when he was overruled with Covid.
Throughout that episode, a pleased Stephen commemorated his withstanding relationship with Holly as he asked her: “Can you think it’s 16 years because we interacted on kids television?”
To which a thrilled Holly responded: “I understand! We’re adults now!”
Holly formerly co-hosted the program with Phillip Schofield for much of the series’ history, having just stepped away to take maternity leave in 2014.
Phillip Provided every series of the program, up until he was axed from the functionHe left ITV previously this year after he confessed having an affair with a more youthful male previous associate on This Morning.