Dancing On Ice presenter Holly Willoughby has said former contestant The Vivienne will be “sorely missed” as this year’s series of the ITV show got under way.
Drag queen James Lee Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and was third in the skating competition in 2023, died earlier this month at the age of 32.
Sunday’s programme started with a display of lifts and jumps by the professional figure skaters, dressed in pink, blue and yellow.
They welcomed the celebrity contestants on to the ice, including Coronation Street actor Sam Aston, reality star Ferne McCann and retired Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave.
Willoughby praised the “incredible start” as she welcomed viewers to the new series.
She added: “Before we move on, like us, many of you will have been saddened by the tragic news of The Vivienne’s passing last weekend.
“Now, they were a huge part of our show, making it all the way to the final in 2023. They’ll be very sorely missed, and our thoughts are with The Vivienne’s loved ones at this time. So sad.”
At the time of their death, the show said in a statement on Instagram: “Everyone at Dancing on Ice is so deeply saddened by the passing of James Lee Williams, best known to our audiences as The Vivienne.
“Making TV history through their groundbreaking and spellbinding skating partnership with Colin Grafton, James’ unique vitality and fearless spirit entranced audiences week after week, as they became the first drag act to reach the final of the show.”
This year’s contestants also include former EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks, reality star Dan Edgar, The Traitors contestant Mollie Pearce, comedian Josh Jones, soap star Chelsee Healey, presenter Michaela Strachan and former footballer Anton Ferdinand.
Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey was due to compete but said she was “absolutely gutted” in December as she withdrew after fracturing her ankle.
Stephen Mulhern stepped in as Willoughby’s co-presenter on the reality competition after Phillip Schofield resigned from the broadcaster in 2023.
The celebrities are competing to impress the judges, retired Olympic ice skaters Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill, former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse, and Ashley Banjo, founder of dance troupe Diversity.
Soap star Ryan Thomas and his skating partner Amani Fancy won last year’s competition.
