Dancing On Ice fans ask 'is he ok' and get response after unexpected moment during series opener

Dancing On Ice fans were left concerned for Stephen Mulhern as he made his official debut as the show's new co-host. The presenter previously stepped into the role back in 2022 as a one-off as he stood in for then-host Phillip Schofield.

However, Stephen has now been made the show's permanent presenter alongside Holly Willoughby after Phillip quit his position on ITV last May following an "unwise but not illegal affair" with a younger employee. The show on Sunday night (January 14) also marked Holly's return to screens after she quit This Morning herself back in October.

Stephen and Holly's partnership comes two decades after they first joined forces on ITV Saturday morning children’s show Ministry Of Mayhem But they are now Dancing on Ice's new hosting duo and on Sunday, the series kicked off with an opening performance from the professional skaters and the introduction of the new celebrity contestants.

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Holly, who looked sensational in a silver sparkly dress, officially opened the show by saying: "Welcome to the greatest show on ice, and let’s hear it for the amazing cast of 2024. Let me just say a huge welcome to Stephen Mulhern."

They quickly got on with the show as the first six of the 12 celebrities taking part in the 2024 series took to the ice before the first couple to face the skate-off was revealed at the end of the show. But before that, there were gasps at the show's rink as Ricky Hatton landed a blow on Stephen.

It came as Holly chatted to the show's first set of couples when Stephen appeared and started messing around with one