Dancing On Ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean break silence on retirement – Daily Star

Dancing on Ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have dropped a bombshell, revealing they’ll hang up their skates for good after one final live TV performance. The pair, who’ve bagged an impressive haul of 16 gold medals in their time, bowed out of competitive skating back in ’98.

But it’s their unforgettable Bolero at the ’84 Sarajevo Winter Olympics that still has 24 million Brits spellbound, etching their names into telly history.

Since 2006, the dynamic duo has been dazzling us on Dancing on Ice, but now they reckon it’s time to take a bow. “This will be our last live skate – here on Dancing on Ice,” Chris revealed to the Mirror.

And with a farewell tour on the cards, he added: “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.”

At the ripe age of 66, Chris is ready to wrap up his and Jayne’s epic 50-year stint on the ice. “We’ve been doing it a long time and people our age shouldn’t be doing it now,” he confessed. “So we’re just happy that we can still do it.”

While they’re stepping away from the spotlight, the iconic twosome won’t vanish from the show entirely – they’re sticking around as judges, rubbing shoulders with Diversity’s Ashley Banjo and ex-Strictly sensation Oti Mabuse.

Jayne conveyed her deep connection to the show, stating: “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.”

She also shared the collaborative spirit that underpinned the show’s development, adding: “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.”

Christopher revealed an intriguing activity he has taken up post-skating, sharing: “I’ve taken up beekeeping. It sounds like a good thing to do. It just sounds so idyllic. It’s outdoors, it’s gentle.”

In the latest instalment of Dancing on Ice, hosted by the dazzling duo Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, viewers are being wowed by contestants including EastEnders’ star Charlie Brooks, former football ace Anton Ferdinand, reality TV’s Mollie Pearce from The Traitors, wildlife guru Michaela Strachan, and rowing legend Steve Redgrave.

Jayne and Chris have both praised this year’s high level of competition, specifically citing Corrie’s Sam Aston as one to watch.

“Sam has taken to it quite naturally,” declared Chris, while Jayne applauded another contestant’s approach, enthusing: “I was impressed by Anton as well. I like his attitude because of his football background.”