Dancing On Ice axed – Daily TV round-up

'Dancing On Ice' is to be axed after the next series, ITV has confirmed.

The celebrity ice skating show, presented by Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley, will air for a final ninth series next year before being canned following falling ratings.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the show's creative directors who celebrate 30 years since their Gold medals at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics next year, made the announcement on 'Daybreak' this morning.

“It seemed a fitting time to say goodbye to 'Dancing on Ice',” said the pair in a statement.

“We wanted to go out on a high. We have loved every minute of the eight series and we’re determined to make our final series the best ever.

“It has been a real pleasure to work on one of the UK’s biggest and best loved entertainment shows and we are extremely proud of the skating legacy that we have built up since the show launched in 2006. We will miss it hugely and would like to thank all the viewers and fans for their continued support.”

A final 'Dancing On Ice' tour will also be planned for March next year.

“It is always a difficult decision to say goodbye to successful and long running shows but with change comes opportunity and the chance for us to bring in new and exciting programmes for our viewers,” added ITV boss Peter Fincham.

The last series will air in January, 2014. [ITV]

Also in today's press

Brian May has called for the BBC to axe its talent show 'The Voice'. “Sorry, hate to be negative but 'The Voice' is the dullest, dumbest, most depressing show on TV. It’s the ultimate insult to music and to performers,” he said. “Every time I catch a glimpse of young singers busting their guts trying to win somebody’s attention, who is rudely sitting with their back to them... I feel sick. I hate seeing the great Tom Jones shoehorned into this scenario. I hope this vile show dies a natural death very soon.” [Daily Mirror]

Noel Edmonds uses a mannequin called Candice in the back of the black cab that he drives so that members of the public don't try to flag him down. “I know its weird,” says his wife Liz. “But at least Noel doesn’t dress her, I do. If it’s nice weather, I think: 'You can’t be going around with a fur hat on.' So, I put her in something cooler. It sounds mad, but...”. [Daily Mail]

Matthew Wright has blasted his daytime TV rival Jeremy Kyle's show. “It’s revolting. I have no respect for it. His old radio phone-in was inspiring and wonderful,” he said. “Now his TV show is about humiliating failures for entertainment. It’s vile. I have no time to watch it. I have better things to do. He is a nice enough bloke but he has sold his soul.” [Daily Mirror]