Dancing On Ice viewers brand Eddie the Eagle their winner after ski jumper arrives on rink on giant bird and shocks them with his talent

Dancing On Ice viewers labeled Eddie the Eagle as their winner after he impressed them with his skating skills during Sunday’s episode of the show.

The English ski jumper and Olympian, 60, made a grand entrance for his performance as he soared above the ink of a giant model of an eagle.

Sportsman Eddie, real name Michael Edwards, and his professional skating partner Vicky Ogden danced to Jon Bon Jovi’s classic hit Livin’ on a Prayer.

Before his routine, Eddie descended from the rafters of the huge eagle hanging from metal wires.

The moment impressed viewers, with many taking to social media to express their joy at what they had seen.

One person wrote on Twitter: ‘When it landed on that Eagle all I could think was: here we go, here’s the joke candidate. Should have known better. Dude is a bit of a surprise.”

While someone else said: ‘Eddie the Eagle surprised me so much, I didn’t expect him to be this good.’

‘Eddie The Eagle is my new favorite! What an achievement,” said another.

While someone else insisted: ‘Eddie the Eagle must win, well and truly.’

“Ricky Norwood deserved a better score from Oti, he looks like he’s improved so much since day 1. In other news, Eddie The Eagle MUST win, what a legend,” wrote another show fan.

And someone else wrote: ‘Eddie the eagle was just fantastic. Well done, Eddie!’

Another audience member at home commented: ‘Unexpected excellence of the evening – Eddie the Eagle was brilliant!’

While someone else praised: ‘Eddie “The Eagle” surprised me, I did NOT expect it to be this good.’

Someone else simply wrote: ‘Wow! The Eagle has landed!’

While someone else said: ‘Pleasantly surprised by Eddie. Okay, Mister Eagle, fly over that ice!’

Eddie had a rocky start to his Dancing On Ice journey after his original partner Tippy Packard had to withdraw due to injury.

Reflecting on the challenge in his opening VT, he said, “Hopefully from now on we can spend a lot more time on the ice and wow everyone with that first dance.”

Eddie – who burst onto the scene at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary – added of his chances: “I’ve always been an underdog. When I went to Calgary, I was a real underdog.”

Eddie was brought in as a last-minute replacement after Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb broke his ankle in the first week of rehearsals and had to withdraw from the competition.

Ricky Hatton was voted off Dancing On Ice later in the show.

The former boxer was ‘gutted’ to be the first celebrity to be axed from the 2024 series after he and partner Robin Johnstone – who made his first appearance last week – faced bottom-placed skater Lou Sanders and her partner Brendyn Hatfield from this week were in the dreaded skate-off.

After the vote in which he failed to impress the judges, Ricky said: “I’m sad to go home, I’ve tried to be a winner all my life and in everything I’ve done – it It’s been a while since I watched the second round.

‘I think I will continue skating. I may have gone out on the first round, but I had a great time and met some great friends.

‘I would like to thank Robin and the coaches for their hard work and even though I go home in the first round, I go home happy.’

All four judges chose to save Lou and Brendyn.

Ashley Banjo said: “Both of you have leveled up not once, but probably two levels from your original skate, so you should both be proud, especially you Ricky. But based on the content and the skating, I will save Lou and Brendan.”

Oti Mabuse added: “My vote goes to the strongest skate, the one with the most content.”

Christopher Dean said, “Ricky, a lot more substance and feeling, but it’s about the skating, so tonight I’m saving Lou and Brendyn.”

This week’s head judge, Jayne Torvill, confirmed that she would also have chosen to send Ricky and Robin home.

She said: ‘I would have saved Lou and Brendyn because it was a much better performance.’

While the couples were split into two groups of six in the first two weeks of the show, all eleven remaining couples will take to the ice next Sunday for Movie Week.

Dancing On Ice continues on Sunday January 28 at 6.20pm on ITV1 and ITVX.