Torvill and Dean ‘bow out on a high’ skating to Bolero in final performance

Christopher Dean has said it was “wonderful” to “bow out on a high” in his final performance with ice dancing partner Jayne Torvill.

The duo, who wrote their names into British sporting history at the 1984 Winter Games, announced their retirement from skating together in 2024, 40 years on from their Olympic gold success.

In April they embarked on the UK leg of their farewell tour, Torvill And Dean: Our Last Dance, which culminated with four performances in their home town of Nottingham.

Following their final performance together, Dean, 66, said: “The performance went well and the audience were amazing and so, for us, to be able to bow out on a high like that was wonderful.”

Asked if it had been emotional, Dean said: “These last four performances here in Nottingham, the early ones were quite emotional and I think I sort of got that out of me, and tonight, it was a high.

“We enjoyed it so much. The skating was good from our point of view, but the audience were phenomenal. They were the best audience ever.”

Torvill, 67, said: “I think we’ll miss it.

“When you’ve done all these shows like this, and you’re suddenly home, not doing anything, you miss that adrenaline rush and you miss the excitement of being on the ice, whether it’s a practice session or a performance.”

Torvill promised they would be working on other projects but said they will not be skating on the ice together.

The duo secured an Olympic gold in 1984 with their ice dance to Ravel’s Bolero at the Zetra Olympic Hall in Sarajevo.

They also had success at the World, European and British Championships and returned to the Winter Games at Lillehammer in Norway in 1994 where they won bronze.

After they bowed out from competitive skating they branched out into touring, coaching and choreographing before becoming the faces of celebrity competition show Dancing On Ice, which ran from 2006 until 2014.

When the show was revived in 2018 they became head judges until earlier this year when ITV announced it would be rested.

Their farewell tour of London, Belfast, Sheffield, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow included a team of professional figure skaters, some of whom have featured on Dancing On Ice.

The duo, who wrote their names into British sporting history at the 1984 Winter Games, announced their retirement from skating together in 2024, 40 years on from their Olympic gold success.

In April they embarked on the UK leg of their farewell tour, Torvill And Dean: Our Last Dance, which culminated with four performances in their home town of Nottingham.

Following their final performance together, Dean, 66, said: “The performance went well and the audience were amazing and so, for us, to be able to bow out on a high like that was wonderful.”

Asked if it had been emotional, Dean said: “These last four performances here in Nottingham, the early ones were quite emotional and I think I sort of got that out of me, and tonight, it was a high.

“We enjoyed it so much. The skating was good from our point of view, but the audience were phenomenal. They were the best audience ever.”

Torvill, 67, said: “I think we’ll miss it.

“When you’ve done all these shows like this, and you’re suddenly home, not doing anything, you miss that adrenaline rush and you miss the excitement of being on the ice, whether it’s a practice session or a performance.”

Torvill promised they would be working on other projects but said they will not be skating on the ice together.

The duo secured an Olympic gold in 1984 with their ice dance to Ravel’s Bolero at the Zetra Olympic Hall in Sarajevo.

They also had success at the World, European and British Championships and returned to the Winter Games at Lillehammer in Norway in 1994 where they won bronze.

After they bowed out from competitive skating they branched out into touring, coaching and choreographing before becoming the faces of celebrity competition show Dancing On Ice, which ran from 2006 until 2014.

When the show was revived in 2018 they became head judges until earlier this year when ITV announced it would be rested.

Their farewell tour of London, Belfast, Sheffield, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow included a team of professional figure skaters, some of whom have featured on Dancing On Ice.

Published: 13/07/2025 by Radio NewsHub