‘Dancing On Ice’ has inspired a big-budget skating drama for Amazon Prime.
It’s said the streaming platform has been won over by the popularity of the ITV show – which is hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby – and plans for a new programme are in the pipeline from Lime Pictures.
According to The Sun newspaper’s TV Bizarre column, the production company behind the likes of ‘Hollyoaks’ and ‘Grande Hill’ are looking to launch a teen drama about the "dark side" of the sport.
A source said: "Skating has become hugely popular off the back of ‘Dancing On Ice’, Margot Robbie’s film ‘I, Tonya’ and the recent ITV drama, ‘Torvill & Dean’.
"Lime Pictures decided that the brutal training regime and extremely competitive nature of ice skating would be great starting point for a drama.
"The storyline is being kept under wraps — but it’s going to shed light on the dark side of skating as the characters gamble their friendships to reach the top of their game."
Meanwhile, Netflix will debut its own skating show – ‘Spinning Out’ – later this year, with Emma Roberts joining ‘Skins’ star Kaya Scodelario for the 10-part drama.
The new series of ‘Dancing On Ice’ itself launched on Sunday (06.01.19) with celebrities like Gemma Collins, Saira Khan and Brian McFadden taking to the rink.
Creative director Dan Whiston – who won the first series of the show in March 2006 with actress Gaynor Faye – has also told viewers to "watch this space" for potential upcoming romances.
He said: "I understand why people fall for their partners sometimes because you work so closely and have such a close relationship.
"It’s happened before and it will happen again, so I will say watch this space. Sometimes boundaries are crossed, however, sometimes it can’t be helped, things develop, things happen and love and relationships do blossom.
"So watch this space on that front."