Dancing On Ice’s winner is predicted ahead of the new series as key traits mean they could be crowned the champion

Coronation Street’s Sam Aston is the most likely contestant to win ITV’s Dancing on Ice, according to new data analysis.

The series, which is 17 years old, returns to screens on Sunday, January 12 at 6:45 p.m.

Sam joins the likes of TOWIE’s Fearne McCann, The Traitors stars Mollie Pearce and Chelsee Heeley in forming the line-up.

Ahead of the first episode, Slotozilla odds experts analyzed data from the show’s previous winners to reveal what constitutes a winning contestant.

The study, which uses 15 years of data, analyzes a range of factors including the participant’s occupation, place of residence, age, gender and more.

Their research found that almost three-quarters of previous winners were men.

The series, which is in its 17th year, returns to screens on Sunday, January 12 at 6:45 p.m.

Those aged 26 to 35 were also the most likely to win, with entrants from North West regions such as Manchester, Liverpool and Yorkshire also leading the way to success.

With these statistics in mind, the experts predict that 31-year-old Sam Aston of Burnley has the best chance of winning.

The actor, who is best known for playing Chesney Brown in Coronation Street, wouldn’t be the first soap winner as he follows in the footsteps of 2024 champion and Coronation Street co-star, Ryan Thomas.

Although Sam meets four of the five main criteria, in second place is Manchester-born comedian Josh Jones, who also fits into the winning age category at 32 with three points.

Anton Ferdinand, Dan Edgar and Chris Taylor are all likely to finish in third place, scoring just two of the four winning criteria, while Chelsee Healey is the only woman to secure more than one point in the rankings.

Commenting on the findings, Marie Toland, Senior Editor of Slotozilla, said: ‘Dancing on Ice is a firm favorite on the British TV calendar and is one of the most looked forward to shows by Brits to brighten up the New Year.

When we analyze the historical data of past winners, we think there is a good chance that Sam Aston is the most likely winner, although of course that all depends on how he performs on the ice!’

Sam joins TOWIE’s Fearne McCann, The Traitors stars Mollie Pearce and Chelsee Heeley in forming the line-up

His partner on the show is Molly Beth Lanaghan

It comes as the show has changed the structure of the show in a huge shake-up intended ‘to avoid upsetting the celebrities’.

ITV bosses are said to have changed the dance-off as the stars will no longer have to skate a new performance if they find themselves in the bottom two, according to T.he sun.

Normally, the celebrities not only had to learn a routine for their weekly performance, but also put together a dance, for which they were voted in the bottom two.

Now it is believed the stars will simply have to relearn what they did for the main competition, as duty of care is said to be ‘of paramount importance’ to ITV bosses.

A source told the publication: ‘On Dancing on Ice in the past, all couples had to prepare a special skate-off dance that would be ready in case they were voted into the bottom two.

‘But that meant that in addition to learning their main routine, the couples had to learn all the group dances – and sometimes more – in most cases a dance that was lost.

‘Bosses have reconsidered the plan going forward and couples in the bottom two will now be asked to simply repeat the same dance they performed on the main show.’

MailOnline contacted ITV representatives for a comment.

The actor, best known for his role of Chesney Brown in Coronation Street, would not be the first winner from a soap

The news comes after it was revealed that the show has introduced a 24-hour hotline for stars to voice their concerns, following the Strictly Come Dancing bullying scandal.

The ITV show will return to screens in 2025 and sources have now revealed new measures introduced in a bid to prevent bullying or abuse.

According to The sunITV bosses have sent the celebrity line-up a six-page letter telling them they can speak out ‘without fear of abuse’.

In the same vein as the chaperones introduced for Strictly this year, this year’s celebrities will also be assigned a producer to ensure their ‘well-being’.

DANCING ON ICE 2025: MEET THE PARTICIPANTS

FERNE MCCANN

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Reality TV star

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: “I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’m excited for the glitz and glamor of the show.”

SIR STEVE REDRGAVE

AGE: 62

PROFESSION: Former Olympic rower

WHAT DO THEY SAY? “It’s like being an athlete again, I’ve been competing most of my life.”

CHARLIE BROOKS

AGE: 43

OCCUPATION: Soap star

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: ‘I went ice skating as a child and had mulled wine at Christmas. Until I get on the ice, I have no idea how I’m going to do. I’m not that strong.’

ANTON FERDINAND

AGE: 39

OCCUPATION: Footballer and expert

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: Dancing On Ice will give me that focus, but I also do it for my daughter because she loves dance and the performing arts.’

CHRIS TAYLOR

Age: 34

OCCUPATION: Reality star

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: ‘I’m somewhere between absolutely terrified and very excited and I keep moving back and forth between the two quite aggressively all day long. I haven’t even started stretching yet, I have to do that.’

CHELSEE HEALEY

AGE: 36

OCCUPATION: Actress

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: ‘I’m ready, I’m ready to go, let’s go! I have a little bit of rhythm, but skating on ice is very different, I’m excited.

MOLLIE PURPLE

AGE: 22

OCCUPATION: Reality TV star and model

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: “It’s going to be fun, I want to challenge myself, I’m up for the challenge.”

SAM ASTON

AGE: 31

OCCUPATION: Soap star

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: ‘Everyone I’ve spoken to at work who’s done it all has the same idea: it’s a great experience and it’s really hard, and it’s exhausting and it’s tough, but it’s also brilliant.’

JOSH JONES

AGE: 31

OCCUPATION: Comedian

WHAT DO THEY SAY? “I have no skating experience at all, I did it once for a date years ago and I wasn’t very good, I was holding on to the rail the whole time and we’re not together anymore.”

MICHAELA STRACHAN

AGE: 58

OCCUPATION: Television presenter

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: “It’s going to be a big challenge, I think the last time I was on the ice was fourteen years ago, because I’ve been training as a dancer, I have a bit of balance but I have no idea if I’m going to be good .’

THEN EDGAR

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: TOWIE star

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: “I’m looking forward to it, but the thought of the live shows and performances is very real.”

LADY SARAH FLOOR

AGE: 46

OCCUPATION: Paralympian

WHAT DO THEY SAY?: “I’m excited to learn a new skill and have the opportunity to market myself and learn a new sport.”