Dancing On Ice’s Ricky Hatton has revealed he nearly quit the ITV show ahead of his first perfomance during Sunday night’s launch.
The former boxer, 45, admitted that struggling so much during early rehearsals left him wanting to ‘throw in the towel’.
Despite being proud of ‘how far’ he’s come on the ice, Ricky’s routine, alongside pro partner Robin Johnstone, scored a dismal 12.5 points out of a possible 40 from the judges and will see him in next week’s skate off.
Fans also compared him to former EastEnders star Todd Carty, who competed on the show in 2009 and became known for his extensive mishaps – including the time he hurtled off the rink and straight out of the studio as he fought to stop himself falling to the ground.
Ricky told The Sun: ‘Robin [Johnstone] has seen me from where I started from, so has Torvill and Dean’.
Dancing On Ice ‘s Ricky Hatton, 45, has revealed he nearly quit the ITV show ahead of his first perfomance during Sunday night’s launch (pictured with pro partner Robin Johnstone)
The former boxer admitted that struggling so much during early rehearsals left him wanting to ‘throw in the towel’
‘I nearly chucked the towel in to be honest.’
Speaking about his disappointing score he said: ‘I half expected to be at the bottom, but it’s about doing the best that I can and the best performance that I can’.
The routine saw him dressed in a boxing outfit, complete with knee pads as he referenced moves from his sport and did press-ups to Rocky movie theme tune Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti.
It comes after show host Stephen Mulhern spoke out after being ‘punched’ by Ricky Hatton elsewhere in the episode.
The new series saw Holly Willoughby, 42, back on TV, almost three months after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her, with Stephen making his debut as Phillip Schofield’s replacement.
During his first appearance as the new co-host of the ITV show, Stephen was sent flying by the former boxer as he landed a powerful blow in a pre-arranged skit.
Addressing the ‘punch’, Stephen has confessed that it ‘hurt a lot’ despite it being a joke, as he admitted he ‘forgot’ how strong the boxer is when agreeing to it.
He told : ‘Ricky is one strong man, I asked him to punch me as a gag forgetting for a moment that he is a three time boxing world champion and yes it hurt, a lot!’.
Despite being proud of ‘how far’ he’s come on the ice, Ricky’s debut, alongside pro partner Robin Johnstone, scored a dismal 12.5 points out of a possible 40 from the judges
Landing at the bottom of the leaderboard will also see him perform in next week’s dreaded skate off
Ricky’s routine also left fans comparing him to former EastEnders star Todd Carty (pictured), who competed on the show in 2009 and became known for his extensive mishaps
During one segment Ricky was enlisted in holding a microphone, only to be made the butt of the joke as Stephen pulled faces for the camera.
‘Please just hit him,’ Holly quipped, and the boxer did just that sending the TV personality, 46, flying off his feet.
Shocked by the sheer force, Holly gasped throwing her hands to her mouth as Ricky checked on Stephen who was laying on the floor off camera.
Following the skating show, which saw six of the 12 celebrities take to the ice, a message appeared on Ricky’s X – formerly known as Twitter.
It said: ‘Ricky even landing knockout blows on @dancingonice! Hope you’re okay @StephenMulhern’.
It comes after show host Stephen Mulhern spoke out after being ‘punched’ by Ricky Hatton later in the show
Stephen replied to the message, he wrote: ‘I’m already starting to bruise!’
During the ITV show, fans took to X to share how funny they found the skit.
One viewer wrote: ‘Hahahaha I have to say well done Ricky Hatton. Laughing so hard over that punch’.
While a second joked: ‘Mulhern defo needed that punch by Hatton’. And: ‘Haha class’.
While another writing: ‘Stephen is going to sue Ricky Hatton for that punch’.
DANCING ON ICE: MEET THE 2024 CONTESTANTS
RICKY HATTON
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: Former pro boxer
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink’
HANNAH SPEARRITT
AGE: 42
PROFESSION: SINGER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill. It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing’
GREG RUTHERFORD
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Athlete
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I like a challenge and I needed a reason to go out and do stuff again and here we are. I want to perform something that’s never been done before, that’s my aim.’
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
AGE: 59
PROFESSION: OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!’
RICKY NORWOOD
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: EastEnders star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘It’s come at such a great time in life. I can’t skate at all! No rehearsals as yet, I’ve just had some physiotherapy to strengthen the body.’
RYAN THOMAS
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: Corrie star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Everyone keeps asking me, “are you doing it?” I’ve told everyone!’
CLAIRE SWEENEY
AGE: 52
PROFESSION: ACTRESS
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
AMBER DAVIES
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: WEST END STAR
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them’
MILES NAZAIRE
AGE: 27
PROFESSION: REALITY STAR
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I’ve always loved to dance but it’s usually on a dance floor on a Saturday night and Dancing on Ice looks so difficult.’
LOU SANDERS
AGE: 37
PROFESSION: COMEDIAN
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m nervous about cracking my head open, or just bashing the old head. I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.’
ADELE ROBERTS
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: RADIO PRESENTER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘It’s ”bricking it on ice” for me! I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away’
ROXY SHAHIDI
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: Emmerdale star
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I can’t ice-skate. I haven’t really said anything to anyone but mainly because I’m so nervous about it!’