Sir Steve Redgrave and his professional skating partner Vicky Ogden have spoken out after they managed to escape the first elimination of this year’s Dancing on Ice.
In a change to the show’s format, Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern simply announced which celebrity would be going home as a result of the public vote – meaning the dreaded skate-off would be no more.
Last weekend, it was Chelsee Healey who finished bottom of the Week One leaderboard after the first six stars took to the ice with a score of 22.
The following Sunday during Week Two of the competition, Redgrave was the unfortunate celeb to finish bottom of the leaderboard after raking in a score of 17.5 from the judges.
This placed him narrowly behind fellow competitor Josh Jones who scraped ahead of Redgrave but behind Healey overall with a score of 20.5.
Despite her best efforts, Healey fell short with the public and was confirmed to be going home first, a result that left host Willoughby admittedly “shocked”.
ITV Dancing on Ice: Chelsee Healey was the first star of 2025 eliminated
ITV
While Redgrave and Ogden were overjoyed to make it to the next round of the competition, it’s safe to say their progression caused quite a stir with some at home.
So much so, some even branded Redgrave’s spot in the contest and Healey’s exit as a “fix” and a “rip”.
On X, formerly Twitter, one ITV viewer penned: “@chelseehealey you were stitched up and should not of been been voted off #dancingonice that was a voting fix.”
“Chelcee has been eliminated. I am shocked. I think Steve should have been eliminated. #DancingOnIce,” a second shared before a third echoed: “As usual its turned into a ‘who do i like’ not a ‘whos the better skater competition’. Sorry but Steve was c**p and should have left first #DancingOnIce.”
Not so sure about oar-some but very grateful for all your votes, I literally couldn’t have done it without you. See you next week, hopefully with some full length trousers on! #dancingonice https://t.co/qlggMPKZaT
— Sir Steve Redgrave (@SteveRedgrave5) January 19, 2025
“Chelsee has been ROBBED surely based from a technical perspective Josh or Steve deserved to go before her #DancingOnIce,” another weighed in before a fifth concurred: “Chelsee wasn’t the best but p***ing Steve should’ve gone. No way she deserved 1st boot #dancingonice.”
And a sixth simply surmised: “Chelsee is out WTF over josh and Steve what a rip! #dancingonice.” (sic)
Speaking for the first time after they’d made it through, Redgrave and Ogden shared a video message on Sunday evening where they ignored the naysayers.
“Thank you so much,” Ogden began in an Instagram story post shared to her profile.
“Thank you everybody,” Redgrave then weighed in. “Obviously, on the judges’ scores… not very well. But public vote, thank you so much indeed.
“I’m loving being her another week. A lot of hard work, gotta go through all this stress and strain again but I’m really pleased.
ITV Dancing on Ice: Sir Steve Redgrave and Vicky Ogden made it through to Week Three
ITV
“Thank you very much,” Redgrave signed off before Ogden chipped in: “I promise we’ll entertain you next week!”
Ogden also shared her commiserations on the Dancing on Ice post that confirmed Healey’s exit.
“Gutted,” Ogden penned to Healey. “You’ll be missed xxxx big hugs xxx.” (sic)
Fans will be able to see if Redgrave will be able to survive another week when the skating competition returns on Sunday.
