Holly Willoughby gave Stephen Mulhern a 'huge welcome' after becoming a permanent host on Dancing on Ice.
However, the former This Morning presenter - who has been hosting the ITV skating show since 2006 - was left 'pleasantly surprised' after the new host was 'punched' to the ground by boxing legend Ricky Hatton.
Watch below:
Now, Willoughby and Mulhern's working relationship dates back 20 years when the pair hosted ITV Saturday morning children’s show Ministry Of Mayhem.
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Wow, I feel old.
Anyway, ahead of the return of this year's skating competition, Mulhern wrote on X (Twitter): “Today is the day! I can’t wait to be reuniting with @HollyWills at 6:30pm to kick off the brand new series of @DancingOnIce! Don’t miss it, live on @ITV!”
And Sunday (14 January) marked the first episode Dancing on Ice, as ex-host Phillip Schofield left ITV last year after admitting to an affair with a younger male This Morning employee.
Willoughby, who wore a silver sparkly dress, said: “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.”
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Dancing on Ice also saw This Morning star Josie Gibson, who was in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year, welcome Willoughby back when she arrived on the ice in a sled.
Meanwhile, former world champion Hatton was put in the skate off after a boxing-inspired performance did not thrill the judges or TV audience.
Dressed in boxing attire, Hatton wore knee pads as he did mini-punches and press-ups on the ice to Rocky theme tune 'Gonna Fly Now' by Bill Conti, with his skating partner Robin Johnstone.
As a result, the 45-year-old received 12.5 points from the judges and he could face elimination next week following a public vote.
However, the moment of the night came when Hatton 'punched' Mulhern after he wound him up.
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During a skit, the boxer was asked to hold the microphone, but Mulhern kept moving it away.
Willoughby said: "Just hit him Ricky please."
And that's exactly what he did.
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"Hahahaha I have to say well done Ricky Hatton. Laughing so hard over that punch #DOI #DancingOnIce," one viewer tweeted.
"Script probably says ‘Ricky Hatton gives Stephen Mulhern a gentle push'," another added.
"I bet Stephen Mulhern now has a dead arm after Ricky Hatton just clobbered him on #DancingOnIce," someone else said.
Topics: Holly Willoughby, ITV, TV and Film, Celebrity
Anish Vij