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Sunday Post
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Torvill and Dean on retirement and young Scots following their path
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up As Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean prepare to skate off into the sunset, they know they're leaving British ice dancing in a good place. The legendary duo's retirement show, Our Last Dance, heads to Glasgow next weekend not only celebrating their incredible career but giving audiences a glimpse of up-and-coming skating talent. Youngsters Lewis Macdonald and Isla Forsyth, from Ayrshire, take on the roles of a young Jayne and Christopher as the show recounts their 50-year story from being paired up at the Nottingham Ice Rink as kids to their breakout Bolero moment and beyond to a glittering showbiz career. 'We never had that opportunity when we were young,' said Christopher. 'Giving them a taste of performing in front of a big audience is hopefully eye-opening and makes them want to do even more.' 'It's very sweet and they do it well,' Jayne said. 'They act out the first morning we had on the ice together, which was very awkward! 'They have a routine they perform after that. It must be a great experience for them at such a young age to be performing in a big arena.' © Phil Hill / PH Balance The retirement tour is a case of saving the best to last, the duo reckon, and is an opportunity to travel back in time and reminisce. 'When we do hang the skates up, we'll be very happy because we've put together what we think is our best tour ever,' Christopher said. 'Finishing on a high is fulfilling. 'People have found it very nostalgic. We're putting them back in that place 40-50 years ago and where they were then as well. It's a trip down memory lane.' Reflecting on such an incredible career inevitably brings the realisation that a future without skating comes ever closer. The pair announced their impending retirement on February 14 last year – Bolero Day as they fondly call it – while in Sarajevo to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their gold medal-winning performance. It was a hard decision, but the duo knew the time was right. Jayne is 67 and Christopher 66, and even though they keep fit, healthy and are still able to perform to the highest level, it won't last forever and they want to go out on a high. © Alfie Hitchcock 'We started at nine and 10 years old, so you can do the maths,' Christopher laughed. 'It feels right to say it's time that we most probably retire or stop doing this while we can still perform it in a way we're used to. You build a strong friendship and trust with each other, and that only comes with years of spending time together. 'Fred and Ginger did 12 movies together, Laurel and Hardy were together for 20-something years. If you think of all these double acts I think we've probably exceeded most of them!' Jayne agreed, joking that the secret to it all was that they never ended up getting married. 'Beyond that, it's that we still always had a passion for skating and enjoyed all the processes, the rehearsals and training as well as the actual performing. We love it all. 'We wanted to quit while we're ahead. We've had the most incredible time, but as you get older, you can't do all the things you used to as easily, your body doesn't let you.' © Getty It's not their first retirement, having paused performances back in 1998 to coach and choreograph separately. But then came Dancing On Ice, which rejuvenated their careers and would have been celebrating its 20th anniversary next year had it not been put on hold by ITV. 'At first we didn't know how it would work,' Jayne said. 'It was our first venture into actual TV because all our previous work was live performances. It was a great opportunity and we're glad we took it. Christopher added: 'It's a vital part of why we're still here today. We owe a lot to it. We thought it would be a one season thing, but how wrong were we?' After final shows back where it all began in Nottingham, the duo will have plenty of spare time for other ventures – or just to relax. 'I'm looking forward to not having a schedule,' Jayne admitted. 'Being able to spontaneously say 'Let's go and do this' or get on a plane or just do something spur of the moment.' © Matt Crockett Christopher jokingly talked about taking up beekeeping, but he has also become an adventure sport fan. 'I've done a bit of motor racing, skydiving and scuba diving,' he said. 'I don't know if in my old age I need that adrenaline rush. I used to have a motorbike – I might get another one.' Jayne laughed: 'I think you should stick to the bees!' It's clear that long after their last Bolero, the pair will still be firm friends. But will they miss taking to the ice night after night? 'I love it as a medium to express yourself, it feels like flying,' Christopher said. 'You don't have that speed and movement anywhere else. When you're ready, you know. We've done all we can do and that we want to do. It's like finishing a wonderful meal – don't overindulge it. Some may say we already have!' Young guns They're more used to performing in front of a couple of hundred people, but young skaters Lewis Macdonald and Isla Forsyth took Wembley Arena in their stride. The cousins, from Ayrshire, are champion figure skaters and play young versions of Torvill and Dean on their retirement tour. © Supplied 'It's great to be able to say you've performed at Wembley Arena,' said 13-year-old Lewis. 'It was amazing being backstage where lots of pop stars and famous people have been.' Isla, 12, said: 'It was super fun and exciting, an amazing experience.' © Phil Hill / PH Balance They're coached by Lewis's mum Suzanne Otterson-Macdonald, a former Olympic skater, and his aunt Gillian Otterson, but they've now got extra expertise to call on. 'It's a dream come true,' Isla said. 'I'll always remember Jayne giving me a big hug on opening night and telling me how well I'd done.' Lewis added: 'It's absolutely amazing because we love Dancing On Ice. We've been watching them for a while, getting ideas. At our rehearsals in Braehead, we had a lesson with them, as well as Karen Barber. It was quite surreal we were actually on the ice with them. 'It was quite scary at first, but once you get to know them, you relax a bit!' Lewis and Isla have picked up plenty of advice from the array of incredible talent in the show, which includes Olympians and Dancing On Ice winners. © Supplied by Supplied 'On tour, a couple of the pros said they loved our jumps and that they were very impressed,' Lewis said. 'It's been inspiring. 'I want to keep progressing, looking up to people and getting inspired – and maybe reach the Olympics one day!' Isla added: 'I want to cherish and enjoy every moment of my skating journey. I've already had the most amazing experiences and I want to work hard to keep improving.' Coach and proud mum/auntie Suzanne said: 'This has been an amazing experience for them with memories to cherish forever.' Torvill & Dean are at Glasgow's OVO Hydro, May 10-11.
Sky News
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Britain gets first world figure skating medal since Torvill and Dean in 1984
Team GB has its first world figure skating medal since Torvill and Dean in 1984, ending a drought of more than 40 years. Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson secured a bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday. Their free dance to a Beyonce medley gained them a total score of 207.11 at Boston's TD Garden. The last time Britain secured a medal at the championships was when Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean had a run of four through to 1984. Fear, 25, said she "cried non-stop" after winning the medal and that it was "a dream come true". "I can't even describe my feelings. I'm still shaking," she added. Gibson, 30, also said the pair's achievement was a dream come true and thanked those who cheered them on. "The crowd here was amazing, and insane," he said. "I think we got to the moment we really worked for, they were so loud and supportive, we are thankful to the audience." Fear told Sky Sports last month that it was a "huge honour" to be considered in the same sentence as Torvill and Dean, after Gibson was inspired to take up skating by the pair. Torvill and Dean are best remembered for winning the gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics, after their Bolero routine. The duo, who recently announced their retirement, are about to embark on a farewell tour, called Torvill And Dean, Our Last Dance. They also served as judges on Dancing On Ice, which was recently put on ice by ITV, who confirmed there were no current plans for a new series.
Reuters
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Figure Skating-Fear and Gibson end decades-long British ice dance world medal drought
BOSTON, March 29 (Reuters) - Britain's Lilah Fear was still shaking long after she and partner Lewis Gibson skated to a breathtaking ice dance bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday to end a British drought of more than 40 years. Fear and Gibson entertained the TD Garden crowd with their free dance to a Beyonce medley for a total score of 207.11 to earn Britain's first world ice dance medal since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean's run of four straight through to 1984. "I cried non-stop," said the 25-year-old Fear. "I can't even describe my feelings. I'm still shaking. Its a dream come true, and I'm kind of in disbelief. But I'm so grateful for the results. "What? Fun fact of the day," she added referring to Britain's long wait for a medal. Torvill and Dean, who shot to fame with a riveting "Bolero" program to win gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics, still skate in shows, but are about to embark on a farewell tour -- "Torvill and Dean, Our Last Dance" -- that opens in London on April 11. Torvill told the BBC recently she hoped to hand the baton to Fear and Gibson before she and Dean retired, saying the young skaters who were fourth at the previous two world championships have "taken ice dancing in Great Britain to another level." The 30-year-old Gibson also called Saturday's breakthrough a dream come true. "The crowd here was amazing, and insane," he said. "I think we got to the moment we really worked for, they were so loud and supportive, we are thankful to the audience."
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ITV Dancing on Ice winner 'revealed' days ahead of final
ITV's Dancing on Ice will return one more time this weekend with its final episode and the bookies are pointing to one star in particular to take home the trophy. The final three couples will go head-to-head in a last push for the top podium with routines including a showcase choreographed by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean Accoridng to Betfred, Michaela Strachan is currently leading with odds of 4/7 (63.3% probability) to win this weekend. Read more: Warning to drivers over common car battery problem that can cause breakdowns However, Sam Aston is close behind at 11/8 (42.1% probability), with Anton Ferdinand's coming far behind them at just 14/1 (6.7% probability). Everything is still to play for though, as it will ultimately be the final performance that will swing the decision for the judges and viewers alike. Torvill and Dean will be skating together on television for the final time ahead of their farewell tour titled Our Last Dance, marking the end of an era for the duo after 50 years of incredible performances. Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse will also be back again to make up the juding panel. This could be the final time viewers enjoy the show though, as a source has now revealed to the Mirror, explaining: 'There are very real fears this is the end of the road for Dancing on Ice. It's had a good run for nearly 20 years and has a very loyal set of viewers who really love it but the sad truth is there's just not enough of them. 'We need bums on seats but the ratings have dropped to a point where it's difficult to justify the cost.' The ITV series originally aired in 2006, but ended after its ninth run in 2014, until four years later, when Jayne and Christopher brought it back. The skating show has seen deminishing returns lately, as the first episode of the current series drew an average of 2.9 million viewers, a significant drop from last year's 3.6 million. ITV's Dancing on Ice will air its grand finale on Sunday, March 9th at 6.30pm.
