DANCING On Ice fans were “in tears” this evening as the ITV show returned to our screens – offering some “normality”.
The first batch of celebs took to the ice with their professional partners in tonight’s launch, with the second half competing next week.
Viewers couldn’t be more delighted to have some much-needed comfort-viewing on their screens amid a difficult third UK lockdown, flocking to Twitter to share their joy at its return.
One wrote: “Dancing on ice is the little bit of normality I needed in my life”.
Another added: “Anyone else crying? #DancingOnIce 10 weeks of happiness”.
A third agreed: “Why am I crying at #DancingOnIce I feel like this is just what we need right now!”
And they were in for a treat of a night – with attention largely stolen by Holly’s plunging outfit – and Joe Warren-Plant’s epic tumble on the ice.
A gasp echoed across the studio as the Emmerdale actor crashed to the floor midway through his routine with professional partner Vanessa Bauer.
The hunk was marked down by the judges due to the tumble, although they did praise him for getting back up again like a pro.
Joe later said that he had no idea what happened to cause the gaffe, telling Holly: “I literally thought I was doing everything perfectly and then I just ended up on the floor – I don’t know what happened.”
However, some viewers were more distracted by the “dodgy” joke the show’s commentator had made about Joe during his VT.
Seemingly referencing the actor’s harrowing Emmerdale storyline, which saw his character get groomed by a female paedophile, voiceover artist Sam Matterface quipped: “If the skater is anything like the character he plays, he’ll be good with female authority figures.”
But some found the remark tasteless, with one fuming: “Seriously dodgy comments about the Emmerdale child teacher abuse storyline?'”
The show had kicked off with a mesmerising pre-recorded routine from the professional dancers, which was put together when they were in a coronavirus-safe work “cohort”.
Holly and Phil then greeted viewers, who were blown away by Holly’s eye-catching dress.
The blonde beauty looked sensational in the dusty pink get-up, but some were distracted by the plunging neckline – putting her boobs front and centre.
A far cry from her usual This Morning outfits, the mother-of-three looked incredibly glam in the gown, which had feather and sequin detailing.
She had her glossy blonde hair styled into chic waves, with the star writing on Instagram: “Gosh it feels good to put a sequin on!”
Although the show only returned to telly tonight, it has already had its fair share of drama behind-the-scenes.
Earlier this week, we told how Denise Van Outen was rushed to hospital after dislocating her shoulder in a horror fall during training.
However, she bravely took to the ice tonight despite the injury, amazing fans with her dedication to the show as she performed with a bandage still wrapped around her shoulder.
She and pro partner Matt Evers performed to Rollin’ On The River, with Matt admitting he’d had to redo parts of the routine due to her injury.
In the video trailer that was shown beforehand, the moment Denise fell and injured her shoulder was shown – with the star crashing to the ground and Matt falling on top of her.
Graham Bell’s partner Yebin Mok was also forced to drop out of the competition for a matter of weeks after a terrifying injury saw her leg tendons get exposed after she was “stabbed” with a skate.
And the Olympian told of his “guilt” after the accident as he spoke to Phil this evening.
He said: “I am so sorry, I feel so guilty – I fell and Yebin fell on my skate and slashed her leg open.
“It’s the worst feeling, I’m used to being injured myself but not hurting other people, it’s terrible.”
However, Yebin appeared to be on good form as she appeared in the studio for tonight’s show – even though she won’t be able to skate for a while.
She told the host: “I am feeling a lot better and it’s healing really well – I’m looking forward to coming back!”
Tonight’s show concluded with comic Rufus Hound breaking down in tears after the judges unanimously decided to save him and professional partner Robin Johnstone from the public vote.
They awarded the star their first ever ‘Golden Ticket’- giving him a free pass to musicals week.
However, his competitor Lady Leshurr was less lucky as she became the first star to land in next week’s skate-off.
The next batch of Dancing On Ice contestants will take to the ice for the first time next week, and whoever receives the fewest votes will go up against Lady Leshurr in a bid to secure a spot in week three.