Dancing on Ice viewers were left divided after the 2025 winner was announced on Sunday night. In the live final on 9 March, Coronation Street’s Sam Aston faced off against former footballer Anton Ferdinand and Springwatch’s Michaela Strachan, with all three vying for the title. The finalists dazzled with showcase routines, each scoring a perfect 40 from the judges. After the first round of voting, Anton and his partner Annette Dytrt were placed third. With the lines reopened, Michaela and Sam battled it out with Bolero-inspired performances. Hosts Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern then crowned Sam, 31, and his partner Molly Lanaghan as champions and Springwatch presenter Michaela, 58, and her skating partner Mark Hanretty placed second.
Coronation Street actor Sam Aston and his skating partner Molly Lanaghan were crowned winners of Dancing On Ice 2025
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Fans gushed over Sam’s triumph, with one fan exclaiming: “Congrats Sam! ! Worthy winner!” and another sharing their support: “Yessss Sam you won it so proud of you voted for you since the start”. A third person said: “I have to say Sam’s bolero was the best by a country mile”, reports the Express. Sam’s Corrie co-stars were also among those celebrating his victory. Tony Maudsley wrote on X: “HE ONLY WENT AND WON IT!!!! Massive congratulations to our boy Sam! The Corrie Actors WhatsApp group is on FIRE tonight. We’re all so proud of him! Couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke!! BRAVO SAM!! #DancingOnIce #Winner #ChezTheChamp.” Colson Smith said: “SO PROUD OF YOU! Nobody deserves it more @samaston93”, while Jane Hazlegrove replied: “He’s just FABULOUS! What a man!!” Sally Dynevor commented on the post: “Well done Sam”, while Andy Whyment shared a video of the moment Sam was announced as the winner and said: “Absolutely buzzing for you @samaston93.” Jane Danson commented: “Thanks for putting this on Andy – my tv crashed just before the result – I nearly cried ! Congratulations to our @samaston93 smashed it.” Lisa George added: “Well done @samaston93 so well deserved.” However, some Dancing on Ice viewers were frustrated that Michaela didn’t win, as it has been 12 years since a female has lifted the trophy. One viewer lamented on X (formerly Twitter), “Michaela didn’t win this is literally a joke sorry,” while another echoed, “Ah c’mon Michaela’s been robbed!” Others expressed their dismay, with comments like “Well there goes our last chance for a female winner,” and “Not happy with the winner Michaela deserved that trophy.” Following his victory, a thrilled Sam said that he was “over the moon,” adding: “I’ve literally got no words.”
Some viewers claimed Michaela Strachan was “robbed” of the title
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Runner-up Michaela explained how much the experience has meant to her: “It’s been an amazing journey and I feel that I’m a winner to get this far with Mark, and it’s been fantastic.” Holly, wrapping up the show, praised her saying: “You’ve done it for the girls. More importantly, you’ve done it for the women, let me tell you that.” The final also saw former Olympic figure skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean take to the ice rink for “their last ever TV performance”.
The final also saw former Olympic figure skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean take to the ice rink for “their last ever TV performance”
(Image: ITV)
In February 2024, on the 40th anniversary of their Olympic gold success, the duo announced they would retire from skating as a pair in 2025. For the routine, the skaters wore all purple in a nod to their Bolero performance and executed some impressive moves before the professional skaters graced the rink to perform alongside them. Introducing the segment, presenter Holly said: “Tonight they’re taking to the ice together for their last ever TV performance.”
