As the latest bunch of celebs battle it out for a place in next week’s episode of Dancing on Ice, Express.co.uk has taken a dive inside the show’s tragedies.
Dancing on Ice returned with a bang this month (Image: ITV)
Dancing on Ice has been a beloved television staple since it hit the airwaves back in 2006.
Returning to the helm for a brand-new series of the ITV skating competition is TV presenter Holly Willoughby and her co-host Stephen Mulhern.
Over the past two decades, the reality show has become known for its glittering performances and horrific injuries in the rink. But tragedy has equally struck the famous cast away from the ice as they have performing on it.
As 10 celebrities battle it out for a place in next week’s show, Express.co.uk has taken a deep dive inside the heartbreaking sorrows the stars have faced over the past 20 years.
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From sudden deaths to traumatic health battles, let’s take a look at some of the most difficult struggles the glamorous cast have faced away from the show.
Michaela Strachan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 (Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Cancer battle
At the beginning of 2014, Springwatch star Michaela Strachan discovered she had breast cancer during a routine mammogram inspection.
Surgeons advised her to have a double mastectomy since there was a risk of the lobular cancer spreading from one breast to the other.
She went on to have reconstructive surgery and has worked as an ambassador for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, stressing the importance of having regular mammograms.
Following her recovery, Michaela is now free from cancer and credits the horrific ordeal with granting her a more profound gratitude towards life.
Opening up to Woman & Home magazine in 2022, Michaela explained: “Going through breast cancer also strengthened me. It has given me more resilience and made me appreciate my life more because I realise that something could have ended it early and that’s a shock.”
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She opened up about her health battle throughout her career (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
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She added: “Often, I forget I’ve had breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy and have slightly funny-looking boobs but, other than that, that’s it. I was incredibly lucky.”
Her battle with cancer was made more sobering when she lost family members and close friends to cancer last year. Discussing her experience on the On The Marie Curie Couch podcast, the 58-year-old described 2024 as “really sad”.
She said: “There was a lot of stress in my close circle of family and friends, starting off at the beginning of the year with the passing of my sister-in-law who died of cancer… she suffered for three years and eventually passed in January.”
The presenter went on to explain how her partner Nick Chevallier’s previous wife passed away due to cancer, which made his sister’s passing particularly poignant.
Around the same time, Nick’s best friend died of a heart attack, adding to the series of unfortunate events. Michaela added her friend Lucy had been diagnosed with a similar kind of cancer, but she also passed away in 2024.
The Vivienne died at the age of 32 (Image: Instagram)
Sudden death
At the start of this month, Dancing on Ice finalist The Vivienne – whose real name is James Lee Williams – died at the age of 32 on January 5.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner made it all the way to the live finals with his professional skating partner Colin Grafton but was sadly pipped to the post by former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas.
The tragic news was confirmed by publicist and friend Simon Jones in a statement online. It read: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.
“James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the ownderful things James achieved in their life and career.”
ITV bosses later came under fire for their tribute to the TV favourite, when Holly and Stephen dedicated a moment to honour their memory during the launch show.
The drag queen made it all the way to the final with skating pro Colin Grafton (Image: PA)
She simply said: “Before we move on, like us, many of you have been saddened by the tragedy of The Vivienne’s passing last weekend.
“Now, they were a huge part of the show, making it all the way to the live final in 2023 and they’ll be very sorely missed. Our thoughts are with The Vivienne’s loved one at this sad time. So sad.” Fans also saw a black and white image of The Vivienne flash on screen after the show ended.
It didn’t take long before viewers flooded to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their disappointment online. One user penned: “I thought that they might have said/ done a little more when it came to paying homage to The Vivienne, showing previousl clips and/ or a dance routine in memory perhaps. #DancingOnIce.”
Another asked: “Is that it for a tribute to The Vivienne? A few words why can’t we at least see some dances etc #DancingOnIce” as a third echoed: “THAT’S IT!? Apalling.”
Patsy Palmer’s family was evacuated from their home in Malibu (Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Home ablaze
Former EastEnders star Patsy Palmer fell victim to the horrific wild fires that have been roaring through Los Angeles this month.
The actress said that her “heart is broken” as she took in the devastating scenes where she lives in the US. She reassured fans that her family were safe but it was still “extremely traumatic.”
Patsy moved to Malibu back in 2014 along with her husband and her children, but often returns to the UK to film. The soap star has recently been back on screen after reprising her role as Bianca in EastEnders for two guest stints in 2024.
In an Instagram post, where she shared a snap of the fiery inferno, she penned: “My heart is broken. My brain is fried today looking at the devastating scenes of the fires AGAIN in my hometown.
“I just returned home to my home intact after the fires a couple of weeks ago and left on Saturday back to work in the UK and now this. My family are safe but lots of my friends have lost their homes again which is extremely traumatic.
“Being here so far away is really, really hard. I’m praying and crying as I write this. I’m helpless here but praying hard. Please reach out if you need anything. Richard and kids are there safe and evacuated. This is huge. Really wasn’t expecting his. Heartbroken. Stay safe.”
Chelsee Healey fainted while training for the ITV reality show (Image: WireImage)
Backstage fall
Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey suffered a scare after fainting during rehearsals for Dancing on Ice. The 36-year-old actress was the first celebrity to be booted from the ITV skating programme last week.
But this wasn’t the soap star’s first disappointment on the show after she faint while training for the show back in November which pushed her to take some time away from social media.
She wrote “I’m taking a little while off this I have so much going on and just feeling a little overwhelmed, I had training and fainted on the ice today.”
She expressed gratitude towards her progrssional skating partner Andy Buchanan for his care during the terrifying incident. Chelsee added: “Thank you to my great partner for making sure I was ok and supporting me until I came round @andybuchanan2.”
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Mysterious death
Back in 2022, former professional figure skater Sean Rice sadly passed away at the age of 49. The skating star competed on the ITV reality show in 2011 and 2012, where he danced with former newsreader Angela Rippin and Alpine ski racer Chemmy Alcott.
Rice, who hails from Ontario, Canada, became a two-time Canadian pairs bronze mefalist with partner Jodeyne Higgins and four-time Canadian fours champion. He retired from competitive skating to tour on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines before he joined the ITV reality show in 2011.
He was married to his fellow skating partner Jodeyne, who also starred on Dancing on Ice. The happy couple tied the knot before the birth of their daughter, Signey, in October 2013.
In 2011, she competed with soldier Johnson Beharry and came in fourth place. In 2012, she was teamed up with singer Chico and finished one place higher in third.
Fellow skater Frankie Poultney shared the news of Rice’s passing on Twitter at the time. She wrote: “Pro skaters are heartbroken today, we lost a true larger than life great – an epioc skater, a husband, father, and my friend of 20 years. Gone too soon, but we will love you for a thousand years.”
Currently, no cause of death has been disclosed.
