Ricky Hatton is the first celebrity eliminated from Dancing on Ice 2024.
The 45-year-old former boxer and partner Robin Johnstone were the first celebrities removed from the ITV tournament.
Although the judges felt that his skate off was far superior to his first skate, they unanimously chose to rescue comic Lou Sanders, who delivered a fantastic performance after originally failing to convince judges Jayne, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse, and Ashley Banjo.
‘I’m gutted to be going home,’ Ricky said, before saying that he will carry on skating despite the disappointing result.
He continued: ‘I may be out in the first round but I’ve had a great time and made some wonderful friends.’
After the first performance, Oti told Comic Lou that she “needed to work on her core,” but fans flocked to X, previously Twitter, to express their indignation since she skated solo for much of the routine, unlike other stars.
![This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 20.00 Monday 8th January 2024 From ITV Dancing On Ice SR16 :on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: Ricky Hatton & Robin Johnstone This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: michael.taiwo1@itv.com](https://www.mycelebritylife.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SEI_185823559-7811.jpg "Dancing On Ice star ‘gutted’ to be first elimination of the series 2")
Former This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, who succeeded Phillip Schofield on the skating show, will anchor the series.
Stephen temporarily hosted the show in 2022 after Schofield, 61, tested positive for Covid-19.
This week, Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney was the first to take on the ice, and judge Oti described her performance as ’empowering’.
Miles Nazaire, a Made In Chelsea star, came next, revealing that he had dumped his dancing partner Vanessa Bauer just before the programme.
Adele Roberts, a radio presenter, then stepped to the ice and scored the highest score of the series thus far, despite her professional partner’s little mishap.
She characterised it as a “absolute dream,” and the 44-year-old, who proclaimed herself cancer-free in June 2022, stated that “everything that I’ve been through was worth it for this moment.”
The former world champion boxer made headlines, as did host Stephen, during the inaugural live broadcast last weekend.
An hour into the broadcast, Ricky was holding up a boxing ring microphone for Stephen while the host explained how viewers could vote for their preferred combinations.
When Holly finished speaking to the camera, she responded to Stephen fooling about with the microphone by shouting, ‘Just strike him, please Ricky.’
Ricky then unleashed a left hook at Stephen’s arm, causing him to collapse to the floor, leaving Holly astonished.
Dancing On Ice airs every Saturday on ITV1 and ITVX.
