Ice skating superstars Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean found worldwide fame at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, where they memorably took gold with their spectacular free programme, performed to the music of Maurice Ravel's Boléro. In more recent times, they returned to the limelight in ITV1’s Dancing On Ice, a series that’s back on our screens this very month following a four-year break. Jayne and Chris are back too, and will also be heading out on tour with the live version of the show.
What’s On caught up with the dynamic duo to find out more...
Dancing On Ice returns to ITV this month following a four-year hiatus. How will it differ from previous years? Jayne: For us personally, the big difference is that we’re actually going to be judging on the show. Chris and I are head judges. In the past, we’ve been responsible for choreographing all the routines for the celebrities as well as the opening numbers and our own routines. This time, workload wise, it’s a lot less - but then we have that pressure on Sunday night to come up with the right points and the right decisions. It’s quite different for us. We’re really excited that it’s coming back. It was a big part of our lives, and one that was very much missed in that January, February, March period of the year. It left quite a big void for a lot of people. We’ve had such positive feedback from people after hearing that it’s coming back.
The 2014 edition was due to be the last show. Why the return? Christopher: That’s when we kind of retired, you might say. But having retired for a year or so, we got itchy feet again. We’re really happy that it’s coming back and really excited about the new role.
Following the increase in reality TV programmes, is there pressure to compete with other shows? Christopher: I think everybody compares everything - but from our point of view, the show is unique. It’s the only show on TV now that has all the jeopardy involved. It’s a skill to be learned, to be able to do it in any competent way. Jayne: At the same time, it’s entertaining as well. It’s a family show that everyone can sit down and enjoy.
Which celebrity surprised you the most in previous shows? Christopher: We had the likes of Ray Quinn, who was just unique - he just seemed to be able to skate. If he’d been a skater from early on, I think he would’ve been a champion - he just had a natural ability on the ice. He really blew everybody away. There’s the likes of Hayley Tamaddon too, who brought all her theatrical performance to the ice, which really moved people. Then there were sports people like Beth Tweddle.
Who are you looking forward to seeing on the ice this year? Christopher: I’m a big Corrie fan, so I’m looking forward to seeing Brook.
Jayne: I’m looking forward to seeing all the boys because on all the pictures, none of them have got their shirts on!
What are you looking forward to most about the Dancing On Ice UK tour? Jayne: We’ve hosted before, but we’re going to be hosting and judging, so pretty busy!
Will you be skating on the tour? Christopher: We haven’t hung up our boots yet. It’s more than a maybe.
How active are you both on the ice nowadays? Christopher: I never leave the ice. I live in America and coach and choreograph out there. I’ve been working with a lot of Olympic skaters this year, so I'm really looking forward to seeing their progress in the Olympics. Jane has had her skates on a little less. Jayne: Where I live, I'm not close to an ice rink - it’s about a two-hour drive to get to a rink, which takes a whole chunk out of your day.
What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to a budding skater? Jayne: We always say bend your knees so that you lower your centre of gravity. Christopher: Skating is all about bending the knees. It’s a different feeling from ballet - you’ve got to bend down and get the glide.
Is ice skating as popular as it used to be? Jayne: Oh, definitely! When the first series of Dancing On Ice came out, there were people flocking to local ice rinks. From that, over the years, more and more seasonal rinks are popping up around the country. They’re continuing to pop up because the skating and the social side of it has become really, really popular.
What have been the highlights of your career? Jayne: Obviously winning the Olympics was a massive highlight. Having a gold medal puts you in a special club and opens up lots of doors for the future. It certainly did for us. We’ve had lots of opportunities and enjoyed real longevity... Another highlight was going back to Sarajevo 30 years on, which is what we did in 2014, and being able to perform Bolero again in the same rink - it had actually been bombed but rebuilt - in front of a crowd of people who were so excited that we’d gone back there. Christopher: We’ve also been given OBEs, which we’re very humbled about.
What would be your dream project? Christopher: I’d like to put on a skating show in a permanent theatre space, custom-built with all the whizzes and bangs that the Cirque Du Soleil has. Jayne: I could help him with that!
What’s the secret of your longstanding friendship and professional partnership? Christopher: Tolerance! No, I'm being funny there. Jayne: We never got married - I think that was a good thing! Christopher: I think you said it - it’s friendship.
Ice skating superstars Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean found worldwide fame at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, where they memorably took gold with their spectacular free programme, performed to the music of Maurice Ravel's Boléro. In more recent times, they returned to the limelight in ITV1’s Dancing On Ice, a series that’s back on our screens this very month following a four-year break. Jayne and Chris are back too, and will also be heading out on tour with the live version of the show.
What’s On caught up with the dynamic duo to find out more...
Dancing On Ice returns to ITV this month following a four-year hiatus. How will it differ from previous years?
Jayne: For us personally, the big difference is that we’re actually going to be judging on the show. Chris and I are head judges. In the past, we’ve been responsible for choreographing all the routines for the celebrities as well as the opening numbers and our own routines. This time, workload wise, it’s a lot less - but then we have that pressure on Sunday night to come up with the right points and the right decisions. It’s quite different for us. We’re really excited that it’s coming back. It was a big part of our lives, and one that was very much missed in that January, February, March period of the year. It left quite a big void for a lot of people. We’ve had such positive feedback from people after hearing that it’s coming back.
The 2014 edition was due to be the last show. Why the return?
Christopher: That’s when we kind of retired, you might say. But having retired for a year or so, we got itchy feet again. We’re really happy that it’s coming back and really excited about the new role.
Following the increase in reality TV programmes, is there pressure to compete with other shows?
Christopher: I think everybody compares everything - but from our point of view, the show is unique. It’s the only show on TV now that has all the jeopardy involved. It’s a skill to be learned, to be able to do it in any competent way.
Jayne: At the same time, it’s entertaining as well. It’s a family show that everyone can sit down and enjoy.
Which celebrity surprised you the most in previous shows?
Christopher: We had the likes of Ray Quinn, who was just unique - he just seemed to be able to skate. If he’d been a skater from early on, I think he would’ve been a champion - he just had a natural ability on the ice. He really blew everybody away. There’s the likes of Hayley Tamaddon too, who brought all her theatrical performance to the ice, which really moved people. Then there were sports people like Beth Tweddle.
Who are you looking forward to seeing on the ice this year?
Christopher: I’m a big Corrie fan, so I’m looking forward to seeing Brook.
Jayne: I’m looking forward to seeing all the boys because on all the pictures, none of them have got their shirts on!
What are you looking forward to most about the Dancing On Ice UK tour?
Jayne: We’ve hosted before, but we’re going to be hosting and judging, so pretty busy!
Will you be skating on the tour?
Christopher: We haven’t hung up our boots yet. It’s more than a maybe.
How active are you both on the ice nowadays?
Christopher: I never leave the ice. I live in America and coach and choreograph out there. I’ve been working with a lot of Olympic skaters this year, so I'm really looking forward to seeing their progress in the Olympics. Jane has had her skates on a little less.
Jayne: Where I live, I'm not close to an ice rink - it’s about a two-hour drive to get to a rink, which takes a whole chunk out of your day.
What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to a budding skater?
Jayne: We always say bend your knees so that you lower your centre of gravity.
Christopher: Skating is all about bending the knees. It’s a different feeling from ballet - you’ve got to bend down and get the glide.
Is ice skating as popular as it used to be?
Jayne: Oh, definitely! When the first series of Dancing On Ice came out, there were people flocking to local ice rinks. From that, over the years, more and more seasonal rinks are popping up around the country. They’re continuing to pop up because the skating and the social side of it has become really, really popular.
What have been the highlights of your career?
Jayne: Obviously winning the Olympics was a massive highlight. Having a gold medal puts you in a special club and opens up lots of doors for the future. It certainly did for us. We’ve had lots of opportunities and enjoyed real longevity... Another highlight was going back to Sarajevo 30 years on, which is what we did in 2014, and being able to perform Bolero again in the same rink - it had actually been bombed but rebuilt - in front of a crowd of people who were so excited that we’d gone back there.
Christopher: We’ve also been given OBEs, which we’re very humbled about.
What would be your dream project?
Christopher: I’d like to put on a skating show in a permanent theatre space, custom-built with all the whizzes and bangs that the Cirque Du Soleil has.
Jayne: I could help him with that!
What’s the secret of your longstanding friendship and professional partnership?
Christopher: Tolerance! No, I'm being funny there.
Jayne: We never got married - I think that was a good thing!
Christopher: I think you said it - it’s friendship.
Torvill & Dean’s Dancing On Ice Live Tour visits Arena Birmingham from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 April.
Interview by Lauren Foster