Stephen Mulhern of Dancing On Ice wears comical protective costume as he rejoins show with Ricky Hatton following incident where the boxer knocked him down with a punch

Dancing On Ice host Stephen Mulhern returned for a second round with contestant Ricky Hatton during Sunday’s episode of the show after the retired boxer ‘punched’ the presenter during last week’s show.  

Viewers were left in hysterics after Ricky, 45, took aim at Stephen, 46, during the series premiere, sending him flying off his feet.

Last week saw Holly Willoughby, 42, back on TV, almost three months after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her, with Stephen making his debut as Phillip Schofield’s replacement.

During one segment, Stephen was seen pulling faces for the camera, prompting Holly to exclaim: ‘Please just hit him,’ and the boxer did just that, sending him plummeting to the ground.

This week, Stephen made sure he was prepared as he returned to stand alongside Ricky in the studio, wearing a protective, padded costume. 

Shocked by the sheer force, Holly gasped throwing her hands to her mouth as Ricky checked on Stephen who was laying on the floor off camera.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer wrote: ‘Hahahaha I have to sy well done Ricky Hatton. Laughing so hard over that punch’.

While a second joked: ‘Mulhern defo needed that punch by Hatton’.

And: ‘Haha class’. 

While another writing: ‘Stephen is going to sue Ricky Hatton for that punch’.

Ricky and his professional partner Robin Johnstone were later announced to be the first couple facing the dreaded skate off, which will take place next week.

He received just 12.5 points from judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse, leaving them placed at bottom of the leaderboard. 

Dressed in a boxing outfit, Ricky wore knee pads as he referenced boxing moves on the ice and did press-ups to Rocky movie theme tune Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti with his skating partner Robin. 

Judge Ashley branded his performance ‘iconic’, while adding he should be proud of the audience’s reaction.

Before taking to the ice, Ricky received a special message from fellow boxer Tyson Fury, wishing him good luck on the show. 

Elsewhere Greg Rutherford and his professional partner Vanessa James, who scored 24.5 out of 40 for their routine to Don’t stop me now.

Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi was lifted into a helicopter move as she took to the rink for the first time.

Judge Oti praised her for a ‘beautiful sultry performance’ to You Don’t Own Me by Say Grace with French ice dancer Sylvain Longchambon.

However, Mabuse said Shahidi needed to put her shoulders down to help the look of her movements.

The audience booed as Shahidi and were awarded a total of 20 out of 40 points by the judges.

Amber Davies was next up on the ice and revealed her goal is to do better than her ex-boyfriend Kem Cetinay.

The Love Island star and pro skater Simon Proulx Sénécal bagged an impressive score of 25 after performing to Hold On To Now by Kylie Minogue.

Despite a nasty fall during training, she managed to impress the judges with her debut performance.

Jayne said: ‘I loved all the beautiful positions, I think that is the best spiral I’ve seen on the ice in a long time.’ 

Hannah Spearritt took to the ice with her professional partner Andy Buchanan, performing to Break Free by Ariane Grande.

The former S Club 7 star was given a total of 19.5 out of a possible 40 points by the judges.

Judge Jaye Torvill said: ‘Well done for doing such difficult lifts.’

She added: ‘We need to see more of the basic skating. It is improving but you could do more.’

Former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas closed the show and bagged the top spot on the leaderboard with 26.5.

Oti told the actor: ‘Ryan Thomas I did not expect that. That was absolutely brilliant.’

Speaking after the performance, he said: ‘You just have to concentrate on getting the job, but we are really made up.’