Dancing on Ice professional Vanessa Bauer has had her say on the ITV competition’s axe. Earlier this year, the long-running show returned for its 17th series, but it was soon revealed that it would not return until 2026. Vanessa joined the show in 2018, where she won the competition alongside X Factor star Jake Quickenden. Since the cancellation of Dancing on Ice, Vanessa recently landed herself a cameo in a blockbuster Netflix film. Speaking exclusively to Express Online, she had her say about the show going on hiatus and about her recent acting role in the Thursday Murder Club.

“It’s bittersweet for me,” she said. “But I know I made the most out of my time on the show and put everything into it. Dancing on Ice defined my twenties with precious memories, lessons, and experience. It gave me a platform through my passion and shaped me as a person. I am grateful for that.”

Speaking about the intensity of the show, she revealed: “It is intense, but I thrive in that environment. There is something thrilling and extraordinary about only having one go at something that will be aired in front of millions. I personally love it. I love to perform, so I am always excited and grateful for every dance. Knowing we only get one go at that performance adds to the uniqueness for me.”

Vanessa also experienced a nasty injury during the 2025 series, commenting: “This year, I tore my ligament in my ankle. I just slipped backstage! I still did the live show, and then I trained for a week after — until the MRI scan confirmed that I should rest and recover.

“I am very careful to be safe on the ice – it’s my number 1 priority, I want to keep myself and my partner as safe as possible – so I’ve been able to never have bad accidents on the ice in all my years on the show.”

The star also landed herself an exciting acting role in The Thursday Murder Club. Speaking about the honour, she admitted: “Being directed by Chris Columbus, someone who inspired my childhood through the Harry Potter films, was a surreal and unforgettable experience.

“Originally, I wasn’t actually supposed to have any lines, but I was instructing Tom in our rehearsals on set, and Chris liked how my instructions and voice sounded, so they mic-ed me up to keep them part of the movie – which was nice.”

Vanessa Bauer stars in The Thursday Murder Club, streaming now on Netflix, and in the upcoming Rise of the Footsoldier: Ibiza, the seventh instalment of the iconic British crime saga, due for release in January 2026.