Dancing on Ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have announced their final bow on live TV will be in the upcoming series, with the Olympic champs declaring they’re ‘too old’ for performing.
The iconic British ice dancers scooped 16 gold medals throughout their time in competitive skating across World, European and British Figure Skating Championships before they retired in 1998.
They dazzled the world and clinched gold at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics with a routine to Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, an event that captivated 24 million Brits – etching it firmly into the nation’s televisual memory.
Despite thrilling audiences on Dancing on Ice since its inception in 2006, the pair have decided it’s time to finally retire from the live performances after this year, reports the Mirror.
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have announced a major change to Dancing on Ice after this series
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Christopher, 66, confirmed their decision, announcing: “This will be our last live skate – here on Dancing on Ice. We’re doing our last tour this year as well so once we’ve finished our last skate on tour, we won’t be performing again. There are lots of endings.”
He further expressed his readiness to conclude the skating journey with Jayne, 67, after more than fifty years on the ice.
“We’ve been doing it a long time and people our age shouldn’t be doing it now,” he remarked. “So we’re just happy that we can still do it.”
Jayne and Christopher have announced they will no longer be performing on Dancing on Ice but will maintain their roles as judges, joining Diversity’s Ashley Banjo and former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse on the panel.
“Dancing on Ice feels like our baby because we were approached by ITV in the early days and we came up with this format together of how it might work,” Jayne shared.
“We didn’t know much about TV but they didn’t know how skating works so together, the programme developed and it’s great that we were there from the beginning.”
Jayne and Christopher competed at the Winter Olympics together
(Image: Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
Christopher has also divulged his plans to take up a new pastime after retiring from skating, inspired by none other than David Beckham.
“I’ve taken up beekeeping. It sounds like a good thing to do,” he expressed. “It just sounds so idyllic. It’s outdoors, it’s gentle.”
Presented by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, the new season of Dancing on Ice boasts a lineup including EastEnders’ Charlie Brooks, footballer Anton Ferdinand, The Traitors’ Mollie Pearce, broadcaster Michaela Strachan, and Olympic rower Steve Redgrave.
Jayne and Christopher have noted that the skating standard is “quite high” this year, with Coronation Street’s Sam Aston showing particular promise.
“Sam has taken to it quite naturally,” observed Chris, while Jayne praised Anton , saying: “I was impressed by Anton as well. I like his attitude because of his football background.”
Dancing on Ice returns on Sunday at 6:30pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.