Holly Willoughby pays touching tribute to The Vivienne on series launch – but Dancing on Ice fans are left disappointed

DANCING on Ice’s Holly Willoughby paid a touching tribute to The Vivienne following their tragic death as the new series begins.

The RuPaul‘s Drag Race winner passed away last weekend at the age of 32.

The Vivienne – real name James Lee Williams – had competed on Dancing on Ice in 2023, reaching the final and finishing in third place.

As the new series began on ITV tonight, hosts Holly and Stephen Mulhern paid their own tribute to the former contestant before this year’s batch of celebrities took to the ice.

Holly, 43, said: “Before we move on, like us, many of you have been saddened by the tragedy of The Vivienne’s passing last weekend. 

“Now, they were a huge part of the show, making it all the way to the final in 2023 and they’ll be very sorely missed.

“Our thoughts are with The Vivienne’s loved ones at this sad time. So sad.”

Stephen, 47, agreed before the duo then moved on to introducing the first celeb to perform tonight.

However, some Dancing on Ice viewers were disappointed there wasn’t more to honour The Vivienne.

Taking to X, one wrote: “Is that it for a tribute to The Vivienne a few words why can’t we at least see some dances etc #DancingOnIce.”

Another added: “Was that seriously the tribute for The Vivienne they were talking about?? Hoping there’s something else later on in the show because that’s the only reason why I tuned in icl.”

A third tweeted: “I thought that they might of said/done a little more when it came too paying homage too The Vivienne, showing previous clips and, or a dance routine in memory of perhaps.”

At the end of the show, a picture of The Vivienne on the programme was shown in a final tribute.

Earlier this week, a friend of The Vivienne’s opened up about the abuse the drag queen suffered just days before their death.

Although a cause of death has not yet been given, police have confirmed they found “no suspicious circumstances”.

Now, Britain’s Got Talent drag queen Myra DuBois, real name is Gareth Joyner, has hit back at those who “bombarded” The Vivienne with abuse in their final weeks.

Myra urged people to “challenge transphobia when they encounter it”.

Taking to Instagram, BGT semi-finalist Myra wrote: “I don’t know how The Vivienne left us, and I will be respecting the family request for privacy by not trying to find out, or by fuelling rumours.

TORRENT OF ABUSE

“I do know that after appearing on Blankety Blank over Christmas they were bombarded with a slew of homophobic abuse.

“I also know that the comments sections on posts announcing their passing are filling up with comments like ‘one less’ and ‘rest in hell’. I need you to know this. I want you to acknowledge this.

“To me, to your colleagues, to your family. I want you to acknowledge it when there are no LGBTQ+ people in the room with you.

“You can’t just post how sad you are when LGBTQ+ people die. I want you to ask if you’re doing everything you can to keep all LGBTQ+ people alive.”

in the last few years, I have buried so many friends, all of them LGBTQ+, all of them taken too soon.

Myra DuBois

Myra continued: “Do you make an effort to use pronouns that might not immediately make sense to you? Do you post comments of love so they drown out comments of hate? Do you oppose political parties who openly discriminate LBGTQ+ people even if they align with your beliefs elsewhere?

“I don’t care how you answer, it’s between you and yourself. But in the last few years, I have buried so many friends, all of them LGBTQ+, all of them taken too soon.

“And it is NOT because of the ‘lifestyle choice’. It’s the burden of shame. Society murders queers, and I am so, so angry.”