Dancing On Ice‘s viewers couldn’t stop raving over Michaela Strachan’s incredible performance during the launch episode of the show.
Fans were quick to brand her the next ‘first female winner in 12 years’ after the wildlife presenter, 58, topped the leaderboard with a staggering 30.5 points.
The Springwatch host stunned people at home as well as judges while performing to Let’s Do It from Cole Porter, alongside her skating pro partner Mark Hanretty.
It was a successful entrance for the former Countryfile star, who easily captured the nation’s hearts.
Fans of the hit ITV series were over the moon and raced to show support commenting on X – where they branded Michaela a ‘dark horse’ and the ‘performance of the night’, penning:
‘#DancingOnIce michaela did so good and slayed she then gets a 30.5 CHEERS EVERYONE’;
Dancing On Ice’s viewers couldn’t stop raving over Michaela Strachan’s incredible performance on Sunday’s instalment
Fans were quick to brand her the next ‘first female winner in 12 years’ after the wildlife presenter, 58, topped the leaderboard with a staggering 30.5 points
‘I give Michaela and Mark an 8.5. THIS WAS EXCEPTIONAL! The speed, the flow, the coverage of the ice, the transitions, the extensions into the fingertips, the pizazz, YOU ARE THE ONE TO BEAT! #DancingOnIce’;
‘I think Michaela Strachan is going to be great in this competition #DancingOnIce’;
‘So happy to see that Michaela is already a beautiful skater, I loved that!! I want more than anything for wonderful Mark to get to skate Bolero on the show – especially as this is his final year #DancingOnIce’;
‘Mark and Michaela were so good, Mark always brings the best out of his partners just like he did with Adele last year. #DancingOnIce’;
‘That was really nice from Michaela. #DancingOnIce’;
‘Michaela is definitely the best so far, a cute routine that’s how you do a mix of solo and partner skating #DancingOnIce’;
‘I knew it. Solo skating, great performance. Michaela Strachan is our first female Dancing on Ice winner in 12 years #DancingOnIce’;
‘Cracking start Michaela! #DancingOnIce’;
The Springwatch host stunned people at home as well as judges while performing to Let’s Do It from Cole Porter, alongside her skating pro partner Mark Hanretty
Fans of the hit ITV series were over the moon and raced to show support commenting on X – where they branded Michaela a ‘dark horse’ and the ‘performance of the night’
‘I knew Michaela was going to be a surprise #DancingOnIce’;
‘#DancingOnIce @michaelastracha was incredible!!!!! So much better then I thought she’d be. A real dark horse great choreo from @mark_hanretty as well’;
‘Michaela was really good…#DancingOnIce’;
‘Performance of the night #dancingonice #Michaela’.
Dancing On Ice returned to our screens on Sunday evening as this year’s cast of celebrities lace up their skates for the 2025 series.
Presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern return to host the ITV show in which celebrities pair up with professional skaters to dance on an ice rink in front of judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo.
This year will see Love Island star Chris Taylor, TOWIE stars Dan Edgar and Ferne McCann plus soap actors Sam Aston, Charlie Brooks and Chelsee Healey compete alongside Olympic rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave, former footballer Anton Ferdinand, comedian Josh Jones, The Traitors finalist Mollie Pearce.
Earlier this week just ahead of the episode launch – the wildlife presenter has opened up on the importance of ‘pushing yourself out of your comfort zone’.
Dancing On Ice returned to our screens on Sunday evening as this year’s cast of celebrities lace up their skates for the 2025 series
Presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern (pictured) return to host the ITV show in which celebrities pair up with professional skaters to dance on an ice rink in front of the famous judges
But despite being happy about saying yes to taking part in the ITV show, Michaela admitted she is frustrated at her lack of flexibility during training sessions.
The Springwatch host said in an exclusive interview with MailOnline: ‘I think it’s great when you’re a bit older and you are able to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
‘I spent my entire career pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and it’s great to be able to continue to do that.’
She added: ‘Do you know what I’m really frustrated at is, when I was much younger, I was really supple. I could do the splits easily.
‘Now, as I’ve got older, I’m a lot stiffer than I used to be, and I do get a bit frustrated with that. You know, when Mark’s getting me to do an arabesque, that leg would have been up there in the old days. Now it’s lucky to get to 90 degrees, which is slightly frustrating, and because of that I’m pushing it up there.
‘So I have a little bit of pain in the lower back and the hip flexors, but actually not too bad shape.’
Michaela looked incredible in a dark blue satin shift dress as she posed for snaps at the Dancing On Ice photocall on Wednesday.
She admitted that ditching her ‘thermals and walking boots for ‘eyelash and hair extensions’ is out of her comfort zone.
Earlier this week just ahead of the episode launch – the wildlife presenter has opened up on the importance of ‘pushing yourself out of your comfort zone’ (pictured this month)
Despite being happy about saying yes to taking part in the ITV show she admitted she is frustrated at her lack of flexibility during training sessions.
The Springwatch presenter said in an exclusive interview with MailOnline: ‘I think it’s great when you’re a bit older and you are able to push yourself out of your comfort zone’
‘It’s a bit out of my comfort zone. This is a girl that’s used to thermals, woolly hats, scarves and proper walking boots, so this is very different,’ she said.
‘Let’s face it, if you sign the dotted line, you’re Dancing on Ice, you’ve got to go with the glitter and the jazz hands.
‘I actually requested to have less eyelashes and hair extensions, but I think we’re just at the beginning.’
It comes opened up about the emotional toll of her breast cancer battle and lifted the lid on her worries ahead of her Dancing On Ice stint.
She was diagnosed at the beginning of 2014 after a routine mammogram, and went on to make a full recovery after a double mastectomy which was followed by reconstructive surgery.
When it comes to taking part in the ITV show, Michaela has candidly admitted it’s the tight tops that bother her, not the fear of horrifying injuries.
She laughed nervously: ‘Who thought it was a good idea to put knives on the bottom of boots, skate around and do fancy tricks on a slidy surface? That is wonderfully absurd!’
The show has claimed quite a few high-profile casualties over the years with Olympian Greg Rutherford tearing his abdominal muscles last time around.
The wildlife presenter admitted that ditching her ‘thermals and walking boots for ‘eyelash and hair extensions’ is out of her comfort zone (pictured in 2019)
Michaela admitted: ‘When I first said yes to this, my partner Nick and I rather stupidly looked at a compilation of all the accidents on YouTube’ (pictured with Nick and their their son Oliver)
Jennifer Ellison sliced her own head with a skate in a previous series, Denise Van Outen dislocated a shoulder and Vanilla Ice was knocked out cold.
Even the professionals who partner with celebrities have been slashed by stray blades.
‘I was worried,’ admitted Michaela. ‘When I first said yes to this, my partner Nick and I rather stupidly looked at a compilation of all the accidents on YouTube. Nick looked at me and said, ‘Please don’t do it. This is really stupid.’
When quizzed on whether she was close to quitting, Michaela revealed: ‘I did think hard about it. I’m 58 years old, I’m lucky to be fit and healthy, having had a cancer scare in my life.
‘My soul food is hiking in the mountains. Do I want to jeopardise that? Do I want an injury I’ll never get over? I did have second thoughts.’
She asked about accidents during the medical and was told only one contestant had ever got cold feet and left before the contest started. ‘I thought, ‘No, I’m not a quitter. I agreed to this, let’s get on with it.’
Michaela was born in Surrey but moved to Cape Town in 2002 after falling in love with Nick Chevallier, a South African cameraman and producer.
She started her training with a local coach there. ‘For the first week I was terrified of falling. Then I did fall and I didn’t hurt myself. I thought, ‘Right, it’s fine.’ Obviously some people do get hurt badly; let’s hope I’m not one of them.’
Now Michaela has left Nick 8,500 miles away to live in an Airbnb on a farm near Henley while she trains for four hours a day at an ice rink in Slough.
‘This is the perfect year for this, the first time I could have done it, as my child has started university.’
Dancing On Ice returned Sunday January 12 at 6.30pm, live on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
DANCING ON ICE 2025: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
FERNE MCCANN
AGE: 34
PROFESSION: Reality TV star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I’m excited for the glitz and glamour of the show.’
SIR STEVE REDRGAVE
AGE: 62
PROFESSION: Former Olympic rower
WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘It’s like going back to being an athlete again, I’ve been competing most of my life.’
CHARLIE BROOKS
AGE: 43
PROFESSION: Soap star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve skated when I was a kid and with mulled wine at Christmas. Until I get on the ice I have no idea how I’m going to be. I’m not that strong.’
ANTON FERDINAND
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: Footballer and pundit
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: Dancing On Ice will give me that focus but I’m also doing it for my daughter because she loves dance and performing arts.’
CHRIS TAYLOR
Age: 34
PROFESSION: Reality star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m somewhere between absolutely terrified and very excited and I keep flitting between the two quite aggressively throughout the day. I’ve not even started stretching yet, I need to.’
CHELSEE HEALEY
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Actress
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m ready, I’m good to go, let’s go! I’ve got a bit of rhythm but skating on ice is completely different, I’m excited.
MOLLIE PEARCE
AGE: 22
PROFESSION: Reality TV star and model
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It will be fun, I want to challenge myself, I’m ready for the challenge.’
SAM ASTON
AGE: 31
PROFESSION: Soap star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘Anyone at work who I’ve spoken to has done it have all kind of the same thing that it is a great experience and it is really hard, and it’s tiring and tough but it is brilliant as well.’
JOSH JONES
AGE: 31
PROFESSION: Comedian
WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘I’ve not got any skating experience whatsoever, I did it once for a date years ago and I wasn’t very good, I was holding onto the railings the entire time and we aren’t together now.’
MICHAELA STRACHAN
AGE: 58
PROFESSION: Television presenter
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It’s going to be a big challenge, I think the last time I was on ice was 14 years ago, because I trained as a dancer, I’ve got a bit of balance, but I have no idea whether I’m going to be good.’
DAN EDGAR
AGE: 34
PROFESSION: TOWIE star
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m looking forward to it but the thought of the live shows and performing is very real.’
DAME SARAH STOREY
AGE: 46
PROFESSION: Paralympian
WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m excited to learn a new skill and have the opportunity to put myself out there and learn a new sport.’
