Stephen Mulhern dedicates post to Holly Willoughby before Dancing On Ice launch

11 January 2024 , 08:09

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Stephen Mulhern dedicates post to Holly Willoughby before Dancing On Ice launch

Stephen Mulhern dedicated a sweet post to Holly Willoughby ahead of their hosting gig on Dancing On Ice.

The two presenters will be fronting this series of the figure skating competition. Stephen, 46, and Holly, 42, have experience working with each other as they once presented Ministry Of Mayhem together. The children's entertainment programme aired between 2004 and 2006.

Ahead of the Dancing On Ice launch, Stephen took to his Instagram page to pay tribute to Ministry of Mayhem and his co-star Holly. He shared a short clip from the first-ever episode of the programme, which included a guest getting pied in the face as the children cheered on.

"Unbelievably, the first ever Ministry of Mayhem aired 20 years ago TODAY!" the Deal or No Deal presenter captioned the wholesome post. "I loved the years doing this with @hollywilloughby! We’ll be back on your screens this Sunday, live at 6:30pm, doing something just as slippy…"

Stephen shared a major throwback post

The two used to present Ministry Of Mayhem (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

At the end of last year, ITV confirmed Holly and Stephen were hosting the series. An ITV insider told the Mirror: "ITV are delighted to have Holly back. Stephen is a good friend of hers too so she will enjoy working with him again."

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As Holly and Stephen were officially unveiled as a new dream team, ITV's Head of Entertainment Commissioning, Katie Rawcliffe, gushed: "Holly and Stephen are two of our best-loved presenters, so reuniting them twenty years after they first appeared on screen together to host Dancing on Ice marks the start of an exciting year for the show.

Dancing On Ice returns to our screens later this week (ITV)

"Celebrating 20 years since they first worked together on Ministry of Mayhem, Willoughby and Mulhern will preside over the action on the high octane skating show as this year's celebrities compete to become champion of the ice. Judges Torvill and Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse are back on the panel.".

Before Christmas, chatter suggested that ITV bosses thought if Stephen got Phillip's old gig, it might convince Holly to return to the show. It looks like it all went to plan as Holly and Stephen were promptly confirmed as this year's Dancing On Ice hosts. However, there was a point when ITV bosses were preparing for Holly to take a break and stay out of the spotlight.

ITV producers were reportedly confident Stephen joining the Dancing On Ice family would help tempt Holly back to the show, with an insider saying earlier last year: "Stephen has been the frontrunner to take Phillip's spot for months but ITV is thrilled to now have him signed and sealed and ready to roll. It means that, whatever happens, they have at least one host for the skate show. Stephen is hugely loved by viewers, is a consummate professional and as an added bonus has worked with Holly for decades - they both started out in telly together. Knowing Stephen will be there beside her could be the comfort blanket Holly needs to say yes."

Zara Woodcock