Excitement ahead of Torvill and Dean farewell show
The Olympic gold medallists were set to skate together for one final time in Nottingham on Saturday, bringing their 50-year career to an end.
A rink at the National Ice Centre was also officially named after them and a blue plaque marking their final performance was revealed on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of their final performance, Laura Affleck, 44, from Nottingham, said: "We have grown up watching them and we wanted to be here before they retire."
Jane Derris-Timson, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, said she could not wait for the "iconic day" to begin.
"I'm so excited I can't tell you," said Ms Derris-Timson.
The 56-year-old said she had been a "big fan" ever since she watched the pair win gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
"I've seen them a few times before and I'm quite emotional to be here on the last day," she added.
"Their journey started here and they are national treasures. They've done a lot for Nottingham and the wider community."
Usha Soni, 74, said she used to watch Torvill and Dean practise when she worked next to an ice rink in London.
"The ice rink used to give tickets out to our office and I was lucky enough to see them perform back then," said Ms Soni.
"I will be very happy for them and wish them the best of luck in the future."
Ann Powell, 77, from West Bridgford, added: "I did see them perform soon after they won the Olympics many years ago, which was amazing.
"They've had a really good career and I feel very lucky and special to be here."
Ahead of their final performance, Christopher Dean said the pair would "always be a part of Nottingham", adding the city will always have a "special place" in their hearts.
Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
Torvill and Dean honoured in their home city
Torvill and Dean to dance together for final time
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Everton complete signing of Mark Travers from Bournemouth
Everton have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Mark Travers from Bournemouth. The Athletic reported last week that Everton were interested in a move for Travers and on Monday that they had reached a £4million ($5.4m) agreement to sign him. The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Everton and arrives as backup for first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The Merseyside club have been looking to add depth in that position following the departures of Joao Virginia and Asmir Begovic at the end of their contracts last month. Advertisement 'Jordan (Pickford) is an outstanding goalkeeper for club and country,' Travers said on his arrival at Everton. 'I'm looking forward to competing with everyone here and being a Premier League player. 'Being in this environment is huge. We're going to push each other every day in training and whatever happens on the weekend, we're going to be there for each other and make the most of every opportunity that comes. 'It's always really exciting to work with a new group and being able to help the younger lads as well. I'll give it everything. I'll take pride in doing the right things on and off the pitch and representing this club with a lot of pride.' Travers had been with Bournemouth since he was 17, when he joined from 21-time League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers in 2017. He was loaned to non-League club Weymouth in 2017 and made his senior debut for Bournemouth in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in May 2019. The Republic of Ireland international spent the second half of the 2020-21 season on loan at Swindon Town before becoming Bournemouth's first-choice goalkeeper after Begovic departed to join Everton. He appeared in all but one of Bournemouth's 46 Championship games as the south coast club finished second in the league and were promoted to the top-flight. Travers only made 15 appearances the following season after losing the No 1 spot to Neto and spent the first half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Stoke City before being recalled in January following an injury to the Brazilian. He began last season as the second-choice goalkeeper behind the on-loan Kepa Arrizabalaga but was loaned out to Championship side Middlesbrough in January. Following the departures of Arrizabalaga, who has since signed for Arsenal, and Travers, Bournemouth have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Djorde Petrovic for £25million.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
In Pictures: Crick Scarecrow Festival
A village's scarecrow festival has returned with displays inspired by The Beatles, Paddington, Star Wars, Spongebob Squarepants, Harry Potter and more. The Crick Scarecrow Festival in Northamptonshire, now in its 16th year, raises money for local community and charity groups. More than 50 registered scarecrows featured in the weekend event, which typically attracts around 5,000 visitors. Jessica Sheppard, from the Crick Scarecrow Festival committee, said: "We always get a really good turnout… it was really, really busy. "My favourite [display this year] was the Beatlemania one in Marsh Close. The cul-de-sac had all come together to create different scarecrows that represented different Beatles songs." In recent years, the festival has raised £20,000 annually, with this year's total still to be confirmed. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Scarecrow festival raises £4,630 for air ambulance Famous faces turned into scarecrows for town event Crick Scarecrow Festival
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Nina Derwael, Olympic gymnastics champion, retires
Nina Derwael, the Tokyo Olympic uneven bars gold medalist from Belgium, has retired from gymnastics, according to her national federation. "I achieved what I wanted and was able to achieve," Derwael, 25, said in a press release, according to a translation. "I was able to prove what I was capable of." Advertisement This past May, Derwael won her third European title on bars, her first major championship medal in the event since undergoing major surgery for a shoulder dislocation in September 2023. "As a precaution, I'd only been able to train my final routine to the fullest a few times, and I was competing purely on experience," she said. "It made me realize that I can't do better. If I want to play a significant role at a World Championship (or the Olympics), I have to put even more and longer strain on my body, and I don't want to take that risk any longer. In recent weeks, my mind has increasingly asked: 'Isn't it enough? Is it worth risking my body?' To which I must finally conclude: it's been enough. It's even been very good." At the Tokyo Games, Derwael became the first Belgian gymnast to win Olympic gold and the first Belgian female gymnast to win an Olympic medal of any color. In 2019, she was the only female gymnast other than Simone Biles to win an individual event at the World Championships. Derwael won bars, while Biles won balance beam, floor exercise and vault. Advertisement Derwael came back from her shoulder surgery to compete at a third Olympics in Paris. She placed fourth on bars, 34 thousandths of a point behind bronze medalist Suni Lee of the U.S. Derwael married Thibau Dierickx last Saturday, according to their social media. Olympics: Womens Gymnastics Practice 2025 U.S. Classic gymnastics: how to watch, field, preview The U.S. Classic airs live on CNBC and Peacock on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.