We’re as surprised as anyone to say this, but we’re actually really going to miss Dancing On Ice when the latest series ends.
Don’t get us wrong, we know Dancing On Ice isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and prior to this year’s series, it had never quite reached the level of impact made by its reality counterparts Strictly Come Dancing or peak-level X Factor.
However, that being said, without Celebrity Big Brother to distract us on those cold winter nights, we’ve actually been glad to have Dancing On Ice to watch every Sunday, and there’s certainly been a lot to entertain us, with plenty of shocking moments, behind-the-scenes drama and theatrics on the ice (and that’s just from Gemma Collins).
As it draws to a close for another year, here are the most ridiculous, fabulous and low-key iconic moments Dancing On Ice served up in 2019...
Gemma Collins’ cheer when she got through her first performance
Ahead of the Essex diva’s much-awaited first time on the ice, a lot of people were wondering whether she’d be able to pull it off.
Although whether or not she managed it depends on how seriously you take your skating, she was obviously pleased with her performance, even catching Holly and Phil off guard as she was heard bellowing “yes!” backstage.
Gemma accusing Jason Gardiner of “selling stories” about her
Sadly, it would only be two weeks until Gemma’s time on Dancing On Ice began to take its toll.
After a week’s worth of having to bat off negative stories in the press, Gemma admitted that she had spent the week too upset to rehearse properly, culminating in accusing Jason Gardiner of “selling stories” on her live on air.
Jason was quick to dismiss her claims – later branding them “salacious” and “libellous” – and the pair’s working relationship never recovered.
Still, it did give us this glorious remix:
Didi Conn descending from the ceiling dressed as Mary Poppins
Having already got her obligatory Grease-themed performance out of the way in week one, Didi Conn pulled something a little different out of her carpet bag for her Musicals Week performance.
While we loved her dramatic Mary Poppins entrance, judge Jason Gardiner commented that it looked like she was going to give us a bit of pole-dancing. Our favourite thing about the above clip, though, is Didi’s unbridled joy at getting a 4.5 from Ashley Banjo and Jayne Torvill.
Paul Chuckle paying a visit to the studio
While the most recent series of Strictly Come Dancing featured the likes of Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, comedian Alan Carr and former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, things got even more A-list on Dancing On Ice.
Yep, that’s the Paul Chuckle you’re looking at.
In “surprising celebrities’ paths crossing” news, he was there to support his mate, Didi Conn, a duo we’d love to see out for dinner with her former co-stars, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Ryan Sidebottom’s beastly make-over
Wow…
Didi doing press-ups on the ice
For this Rocky-themed number, Didi performed an impressive six press-ups on the ice (one more than was actually choreographed, no less), before lying flat so that partner Łukasz Różycki could pick her up and use her for some weight training.
How she went home after delivering this incredible performance we have no idea.
Melody Thornton delivering the first head-banger of the series
The head-banger is simultaneously the most impressive, terrifying and, let’s be honest, ridiculous-looking move you’re ever likely to see on Dancing On Ice, and this year it was Melody Thornton who attempted it first, on her second time taking to the ice.
Later in the series, the move was also pulled off by Wes Nelson and his partner Vanessa Bauer (although somewhat more shakily), and Saara Aalto.
Gemma Collins hitting the deck
Fair play to Gemma Collins. She fell (and she fell hard) but she got back up and finished her routine, going on to land what would be her highest score of the series, bagging 16.5 marks of a possible 40.
Torvill and Dean reminding everyone why they’re the top dogs of the skating world
Listen, we’ve got no idea why they’re dressed up in full La La Land garb to give a performance set to Michael Bublé’s You Got A Friend In Me, a mish-mash of references if ever there was one.
But… you can’t argue with that skating ability, can you?
Melody Thornton channeling her inner Ariel
We have to hand it to Dancing On Ice, they really thought outside the box with the themed weeks this year (keep reading for more on that).
Fairytale Week brought a mermaid-themed performance from Melody, training for which – for some reason – required her to sit around poolside at her hotel in this multi-coloured tail. Totally pointless, but we love it anyway.
“I’m sorry, Gemma’s not here right now… but the Queen GC is…”
Gemma might not have actually done much, y’know, skating in this performance but it was a pro-duc-tion all the same. The hair. The pre-recorded into. THE LUNGE.
Saara Aalto doing some live singing during her performance
We were wondering how long we’d have to wait until Saara Aalto name-checked the fact she was the voice of Anna in the Finnish version of Frozen, and it turns out… three weeks.
There’s flexing, and then there’s Saara Aalto making Dancing On Ice history as the first contestant to sing live while skating, belting out an energetic version of Let It Go (even though that wasn’t actually her song in the film).
James Jordan’s tights
Moving on…
Gemma Collins hiring an actual shaman to rid the Dancing On Ice studio of evil spirits
After a rough couple of weeks on the ice, Gemma hired psychic Sue Holmes to try and get rid of negative energy in the Dancing On Ice studio.
Unfortunately for her, this ended up having the opposite effect, and she was sent packing by the judges that same week...
Gemma not even pretending she’ll be keeping her skating up
“Probably not, no,” was Gemma’s simple answer when Holly Willoughby asked her if she’d “carry on skating”, having been eliminated from the competition.
Well, at least she’s honest.
And despite having a bit of a diva reputation, Gemma was surprisingly gracious in defeat, telling Holly: “I just want to bow out gracefully. It’s time to let [the others] go on, I wish ’em all the best of luck, they’re all working so hard.”
The introduction of the Time Tunnel
Literally every second of Time Tunnel week was completely ridiculous, not least the tunnel itself, which saw each of the couples emerging from a wall of smoke, in the style of Stars In Their Eyes.
This Baroquan opening number
A group performance that opens with a Marie Antoinette-inspired banquet tableau, continues into some absolutely amazing skating stunts from the professional team and ends in the stunning image of the judges at a masquerade ball…
Keep in mind this was all within the first 10 minutes of what we can only describe as the most important episode of television 2019 has given us so far this year (and we’re only half-kidding).
Brian McFadden coming out of the Time Tunnel as Rylan Clark-Neal
While other contestants emerged from the Time Tunnel in the prehistoric, Elizabethan, Ancient Egyptian or *ahem* “pirate” period, Brian McFadden was thrown all the way back to 2012, when Rylan Clark-Neal first rose to prominence.
No, we’re obviously joking. He’s Elvis. Supposedly.
The “10” graphic
It took eight weeks for a contestant to get full marks from one of the judges, but Wes Nelson finally pulled it off during Time Tunnel week to reveal the naffest graphic we’ve seen in a good while (that we’re also completely obsessed with).
Saara and Hamish theming an entire performance around hook-a-duck
We’re still a little bit confused as to how Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold relates to hook-a-duck, but Saara and Hamish more than made up for this befuddling production choice with their impressive head-banger.
Brian quite literally falling at the last hurdle
A spot in the final was just within the former Westlife star’s reach, but unfortunately, his first time in the skate-off ended in disaster, when he and partner Alex Murphy fell over towards the end of their last routine.
The judges were also in agreement that had they not stumbled, Brian may well have beat Saara, who ended up taking her place in the final next to James and Wes.
Find out who’s crowned this year’s Dancing On Ice winner in the live final, airing on Sunday night from 6pm on ITV.
Eventual winner Kimberly Birch later hit out at the show, claiming the girls all knew that 'Prince Harry' was an imposter, but were manipulated into thinking they were just being paranoid by producers, who urged doubters to speak to a fake therapist for reassurance.