Latest news with #Torvill
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Dancing on Ice's Jayne Torvill's horror fall on ice during live tour performance
Jayne Torvill took a terrifying stumble whilst embarking on her UK tour alongside Christopher Dean. The pair were skating their iconic Bolero routine and captivating the crowd when she had the fall. According to reports, the Dancing On Ice royalty had hit an unseen hole in the ice which caused the fall. Fans were enjoying the performance over the weekend on Sunday, April 27, at Birmingham's BP Pulse Live Arena before the sudden incident. The 67-year-old was quickly back on her feet despite gasps from the audience , with Chris, 66, quickly rushing to ensure she was fine as she pulled herself back to her feet. Despite the hiccup, the duo continued their classic skating performance seamlessly as they brushed the situation off. The pair, who captivated audiences worldwide with their 1984 Winter Olympics act, have embarked on their final tour this month. After the incident , Christopher thanked the audience and said that sometimes ice skating can be "scary" for Jayne. He said: "Thank you so much. As you can see, sometimes it gets scary out here. Scary, scary - for Jayne anyway." Christopher, who has been in a relationship with British ice skater Karen Barber since 2011, then went on to thank the audience for attending the show. He said: "It has been a terrific show and thank you to my wonderful skaters here and to Jayne. We are really honoured that you spend your time to come out and see us on a Sunday afternoon and share some of our 50-year career highlights." "It's been so memorable and we will always remember today. Thank you for your memories everyone," he added. Torvill and Dean became famous for their performance at the 1984 Winter Olympics as they got the highest possible 'perfect' score in a historical first. Joining forces back in 1975 and later achieving Olympic glory, the skating duo now prepare to bow out with their tour, Torvill and Dean: Our Last Dance, which will come to an end next month on May 11. With the chapter soon to come to an end, the pair will continue performances in other cities including Glasgow, London, Belfast and Newcastle. Ahead of their performances, Chris shared that both felt it was the "right time" to hang up their skates. The beloved ice-skating pair have acknowledged the passage of time with one half quipping, "We're not spring chickens anymore," and noting their desire to bow out while they are still performing at a commendable standard. The duo has been accompanied by a documentary team capturing their farewell journey across the nation. An hour-long ITV special is in the works, delving into their iconic skating careers. Viewers will be treated to retrospection of their professional peaks and an up-close look at Torvill and Dean's preparations as they ready themselves for a poignant adieu to their admirers. Having graced our screens on Dancing On Ice since its inception in 2009, the news that the series cancellation comes amidst dwindling viewership figures. Set to broadcast later in the year, 'Torvill and Dean: The Last Dance' promises to offer a deeply personal glimpse into the lives of Britain's most celebrated ice skaters. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Edinburgh Live
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Dancing On Ice's Jayne Torvill in heart-stopping moment in front of audience
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Jayne Torvill experienced a heart-stopping moment during the iconic Bolero routine with skating partner Christopher Dean, slipping on the ice after hitting an unnoticed hole during their UK tour performance. The formidable Dancing On Ice judges were in the midst of spellbinding fans at Birmingham's BP Pulse Live Arena this Sunday when suddenly, Jayne tumbled onto the ice. As the audience collectively held their breath, 67 year old Torvill found herself on the ground. Chris, 66, quickly came to her aid, and together they regained composure. True professionals, the pair continued their routine seamlessly, brushing off the incident like true champs. The duo, who captivated audiences worldwide with their 1984 Winter Olympics act, have embarked on their final tour this month. READ MORE - Everyone with a Paypal account put on red alert and urged to follow 10 new rules READ MORE - ITV star Lorraine Kelly enjoys family day out in Edinburgh as fans say same thing In a dazzling display, Jayne glided across the ice donning a spectacular purple ombre ensemble, while Christopher complemented her look perfectly with an elegant silk purple button-up paired with smart trousers. Joining forces back in 1975 and later achieving Olympic glory, Torvill and Dean now prepare to bow out with their tour, aptly named Torvill and Dean: Our Last Dance, which will conclude on May 11, reports the Mirror. With the curtain drawing to a close, the electrifying twosome are set to dazzle in cities including London, Belfast, Newcastle, and Glasgow. Ahead of their swansong performances, Chris shared that both felt it was the "right time" to hang up their skates. (Image: SWNS) (Image: SWNS) (Image: SWNS) The beloved ice-skating pair have acknowledged the passage of time with one half quipping, "We're not spring chickens anymore," and noting their desire to bow out while they are still performing at a commendable standard. The duo has been accompanied by a documentary team capturing their farewell journey across the nation. An hour-long ITV special is on the horizon, delving into their illustrious skating careers. Viewers will be treated to retrospection of their professional peaks and an up-close look at Torvill and Dean's preparations as they ready themselves for a poignant adieu to their admirers. Having graced our screens on Dancing On Ice since its inception in 2009, the news that the series cancellation comes amidst dwindling viewership figures. Set to broadcast later in the year, 'Torvill and Dean: The Last Dance' promises to offer a deeply personal glimpse into the lives of Britain's most celebrated ice skaters. In a candid revelation to the Mirror about the upcoming documentary covering their tour, Jayne and Chris expressed their exhilaration: "We're delighted that our farewell tour will be the subject of an ITV documentary." They added, "The programme will be filled with poignant and joyful moments as we plan, rehearse and perform our final skating journey together - all caught on camera by a film crew following us over many months as we bid farewell to our 50 year ice skating partnership." Emphasising the significance of ITV in their career, they remarked, "It's fitting that this documentary will be broadcast on ITV, our TV home for the last two decades. We hope fans will enjoy this final opportunity to see us skate together."
The Guardian
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Torvill & Dean: Our Last Dance review – Olympic champs' classy glide down memory lane
A painfully mirthless Dancing on Ice skit during Torvill and Dean's farewell tour stages an assault on their signature Boléro. Set to a grating banjo version of Ravel's score, the scene encapsulates our fear: will the former Olympians trash their legacy by taking to the ice in their nana era? The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. But Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are a class act, and leave the memories intact. This final show, a glide down memory lane, narrates their highlights and revisits totemic routines. With filmed chat and nifty graphics, they take us from childhood meet at Nottingham Ice Stadium (their personae of 'blond prince' and 'queen bee' established early), through to Olympic gold in 1984 and a resurgent career in reality TV. Now in their mid-60s, the pair naturally lack their youthful flex and fire, but keep it elegant. Only in the Fred and Ginger number, Let's Face the Music and Dance, do lifts slump effortfully out of line. In their prime, they brought cheek and heart to ice dancing – it's no surprise people assumed they were an item, because their numbers often held an emotional charge (their coach insisted they maintain eye contact, for added tingle). And even today, Dean is a charming partner while Torvill brings the drama, her large eyes registering roguish mischief or distress. They devolve dazzle duties to a 15-strong company, many of them Dancing on Ice pros. Peril can hone the edge of skating's art, and some of these younger artists dare more: especially Philip Warren, all speed and swagger, and Vanessa James, held at heedless angles by partner Eric Radford. The choreography is by Dean with Dan Whiston and even the cheesiest numbers (circus, line dance, 80s montage) catch a frisson: a full-hearted circle, a bold tilt. The stars themselves weave through the scarlet and black opener from The Greatest Showman, a yearning Summertime and goofy Mack and Mabel. They can't compete with their past selves, but when they do tackle Boléro, it's with unvarnished simplicity, tracing their landmark routine with dignity. Torvill and Dean can't stop time – but they make a few last golden memories. Torvill & Dean: Our Last Dance is at SSE, Belfast, 15, 16 April. Then at Utilita Arena, Sheffield, 19, 20 April. Then on tour in the UK until 12 July
Telegraph
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Torvill and Dean interview: ‘I'd like to be a beekeeper'... ‘But you've never been near a bee!'
As they put the finishing touches to a farewell tour that will bring to an end the longest partnership in British sporting history, there is only one question to ask Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean: now they are hanging up their skates having spent almost every waking moment in the last 50 years together on the ice, what on earth are they going to do with their time? 'Beekeeping,' says Dean, as the two of them sit in the green room of Aberdeen's P&J arena where they have been rehearsing their spectacular goodbye bonanza for the past month. 'Beekeeping?' says Torvill, sounding incredulous. 'You've never been near a bee.' 'I have no bees,' admits Dean. 'But in my head it sounds like a nice thing to do. And that's my point. Basically I now will have the time to do anything I fancy.' It will be some change, putting on a beekeeper's mask instead of a pair of skates. So adapted have they become to life on the ice over the years that Torvill says when she is out and about away from the rink, she is now physically incapable of walking in anything other than the flattest of shoes. 'I hate wearing heels,' she says. 'I'm forever falling off them.' Yet here they are, willingly stepping away from what has long been their domain. 'We always said we knew when it would be over,' says Dean. 'And we both realised this was it. It doesn't get easier, you know, the pains, the aches.' Not that anyone watching them in rehearsal would suggest there is any apparent physical decline. On the ice the pair still glide with the smooth accomplishment we have always associated with them. When they ease their way through the Bolero routine that made their name, in truth it may not be quite as athletic as it was in Sarajevo 41 years ago (at 66 Dean is no longer as adept at doing the splits, for instance). But the pair are still mesmerising in their co-ordination. For four minutes, the show's supporting cast of 16 professional skaters, many of them former Olympians, stand at the side of the rink watching on in awe, before bursting into a spontaneous round of applause as the two collapse to the ice at the routine's conclusion. And no wonder. Four decades on, Bolero remains the stand-out moment in competitive ice dancing history, its grace and beauty undimmed. To watch the two of them once more undertake it, is to be immersed in a warm bath of nostalgia. Back in 1984, 24 million of us Britons tuned in to see them reach technical perfection. Their artistry and precision delivered the ice-skating equivalent of Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10, or Roger Bannister's four-minute mile, or Geoff Hurst's hat-trick – a sporting moment carved into the collective memory. This was something extraordinary. Not that they realised what they had done at the time. 'We had no idea of the reaction,' says Dean. 'Straight away we went back to Germany, where we were training, because we wanted to do the Worlds six weeks later. We wanted to win the clean sweep: Europeans, Olympics, Worlds. It was only after we won the Worlds we came back to Nottingham and the city had organised a street parade, like we'd won the FA Cup or something.' 'We were a little embarrassed,' adds Torvill. 'We thought no one would turn out. But the streets were lined. And when we got to the main square in Nottingham, it was completely full. They held a reception for us in the Council House and we came out on to the balcony and waved to the crowd below. That's when it hit us what we'd done. Thinking about it, we were behaving like the Queen.' For two working-class kids from Nottingham's estates (Dean's father was a miner, Torvill's worked in the Raleigh bicycle factory) it was a triumph that changed everything. They had been together since they were young teenagers. 'It was 1975, a Thursday morning, 6am we first skated together,' recalls Dean. They had been paired by circumstance. 'My partner had left to find a better partner in London and Jayne's partner had done the same,' says Dean. 'It left the two of us. We'd already put five or six years in, really loving what we were doing. We didn't want to stop. Getting together afforded us the opportunity to carry on.' Which means there are two skaters out there who must have spent the last 50 years bitterly regretting their choices. 'At first we didn't want it to be common knowledge we were skating together,' adds Torvill. 'To avoid gossip.' Initially at school, they carried on when they left education, supporting themselves by working full time, Dean in the police force, Torvill in an office. Then came a life-changing moment. They got a grant from Nottingham Council, which enabled them to train full time. 'We'd come fifth in the Olympics and a couple of pairs who'd finished above us had retired, so we thought we might be in with a chance of bronze if we went for it.' Backed by the untold riches of £7,000 a year each, they found they had a similar work ethic, both prepared to be on the ice every possible moment. Plus, they discovered they had a real flair for choreography. 'We were always encouraged to do our own,' says Torvill. 'Even our first coach Janet, she was always: 'Have you found your music yet?' Some coaches still give the kids the music and the steps, giving them no room to be creative. Our coaches were more on the technical side and less on the artistic side.' In 1984, by now training in Bavaria, they decided to go against all convention and put together a piece soundtracked by classical music. And they thought Ravel's overture had real potential for drama. 'The usual thing was to have music with some sort of dance rhythm,' says Torvill. 'With Bolero we wanted to do something different. We tried to keep it under wraps until the British Championships.' 'I remember at the British Championships there was a bit of an intake of breath: 'What are you doing?'' adds Dean. 'But we believed in it.' Rightly so. Looking back at their performance in Sarajevo 40 years on, it still looks remarkable, astonishing, spellbinding. Not that the two of them regard it as such. 'For a long time we didn't dare watch it in case we saw something that wasn't quite right,' says Torvill. 'Over the years, we've gradually been able to watch and think what a special day it was.' 'Yeah, when we watch it now, we watch it with a smile on our face. Whereas in the past it was hard to watch: we were so critical. And you can't change it.' Besides, Dean adds, while these days the standards are very different, they have come to appreciate that there is something about Bolero that stands the test of time. 'Listen, what they are doing technically now is amazing, way ahead of us,' he suggests. 'From an emotional point of view, though, I'm not sure. What the two of us had built up over the four years of being at the top was a whole story. You watch some of the skaters now and they're fantastic, but you don't know about them, who they are. I think the public followed us, they watched us on the telly. By the time we got to the Olympics there was this anticipation.' And yet, even as half the population back then headed to the nearest rink to try to emulate the couple's golden achievement, when Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson won bronze in the recent World Championships, they were the first Britons in the four decades since Torvill and Dean to stand on an international podium. The sport's opportunity to use their success as a springboard was manifestly squandered. 'I know, I know,' says Dean. 'Everything here was so amateur. There wasn't a system working together to nurture talent. The coaches were individuals, in different places, doing their own thing. There wasn't a pathway for young talent to pass them on to the next level. Even now, Lilah and Lewis skate in Montreal. There they have a system, they have the ice facilities, funding from their associations. We never found that.' Much as they wanted their sport to thrive, after their success Torvill and Dean didn't have the time to fight the lack of follow-up. They turned professional, toured the world, skating on and on, everywhere they performed finding they were cheered to the echo. And since 2006 they have been the presiding presence on ITV's Dancing On Ice, which has come to an end now they have announced they will be stepping away from performing. 'We loved doing Dancing on Ice,' says Torvill. 'We'd have been happy to remain as judges and not do any more routines, but they decided to put the series on hold.' She adds they always enjoyed watching the celebrities giving vivid demonstrations of quite how hard it is to skate and dance at the same time. 'Some of them are brilliant, Ray Quinn, Kieran Bracken,' says Dean. 'At first we just wanted the best skaters. But the producers wanted some who struggled, to make it more varied. They were right. We have a video sequence in our show of celebrities falling over. It is very funny.' 'Ah yes, Sir Steve,' adds Torvill, referring to the great Olympian Steve Redgrave, who fought with the surface to much comical effect in this latest series. 'Bless him.' They loved, she adds, working with sporty folk in particular, with whom they shared a fundamental quality: a determination to win. 'I suppose that is the question about us,' says Torvill, when asked if the pair regard themselves as sports people or artists. 'The answer is we're still competitive. But with ourselves. We still want to be the best we can be on the ice.' And it appears their competitive instincts really do seep into every aspect of their lives. After the interview, they explain they are off to take an ice bath, to ease muscles strained by hours of rehearsal. Which, it might be thought, cannot be an easy process for a pair in their sixties. 'We can do three minutes in there,' says Torvill. 'Actually I can do five,' says Dean. 'Well, if you can do five, I can do five,' says Torvill, immediately issuing a challenge. Even as they step away from the ice, it seems the spirit of Bolero is as alive as ever.
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.
