14 February 2024 , 15:50
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Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean's future on Dancing On Ice has been confirmed after their shok retirement announcement.
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, the Dancing On Ice judges confirmed this week that they were hanging up their skates, 40 years on from their rise to stardom. In 1984, Torvill and Dean performed their gold medal-winning routine at the Olympic Games, cementing their place in sporting history.
In our chat, Jayne and Christopher revealed they were sticking with ITV's Dancing On Ice while hanging up their skates as far as competing and tours are concerned. Reflecting on the decision to draw things to a close, Chris said: "I think there comes a time when you know. We're not spring chickens any more, but we’re still able to do it to a certain degree we feel good about it, but that will go.
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean's Dancing On Ice future confirmed after retirement announcement (Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)"This is the right time for us to be able to do that and go and skate and do some of the old routines, be very nostalgic, but then do some new fun, upbeat [dances] with friends of ours from the skating world and from Dancing On Ice. We’ll have a sense of pride as well, I think, of what we’ve done. I think we'll get reflective and look at it not in a sad way but in a happy way." They savoured every moment of their time back at the scene of their greatest triumph.
A spokesperson for ITV has since told The Mirror that Jayne and Christopher's retirement from skating will not impact their roles as judges on Dancing On Ice, and therefore, they won't be leaving the show anytime soon.
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"Jayne and Chris are judges on the series so their retirement from skating does not impact the show," the spokesperson told.
The pair are retiring from the rink with one final tour on the way, which they say will be a "nostalgic celebration". Speaking about their retirement during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, the much-loved pair hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary why now was the time perfect time for them to leave skating behind.
The pair revealed that next year will mark 50 years since they started skating together. They now feel it's the perfect time to retire from the sport, with their big farewell to fans taking place next year.
Chris and Jayne's future on Dancing On Ice has been confirmed (PA)
The pair have marked the 40th anniversary of their gold medal-winning routine from the Olympic Games in 1984 (PA)Chris explained: "Gosh well 40 years ago is a long time. In actual fact, next year in 2025, we have been skating together for 50 years and we felt that was a really nice round number to say ‘we have had a wonderful time but it’s time to retire a little bit and hang up the skates’. No more touring except for the last tour we are hoping to do next year."
On saying goodbye and making their final tour a "celebration", Chris went on: "The tour is going to be a celebration and nostalgic at the same time. You will see some old numbers that we have done in the past and who knows there might be a Bolero in there as well.
"But we want to bring along our friends we have met over the years onto the ice with us in a celebration for that one last tour. It’s 50 years of us together so we would like to say thank you to everybody and if you would like to come along, then come along."