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Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean reveal that if Dancing On Ice continues beyond new series they ‘won’t perform in it’ – after their retirement plans and falling ratings cast doubt on the skating show’s future

BBG News

As a lifelong admirer and follower of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean‘s extraordinary skating journey, I find myself both awestruck and saddened by their decision to retire from competitive skating after an unparalleled career spanning five decades.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have shared that they won’t participate any further in Dancing On Ice, should the show carry on past its next season.

The Olympic figure skaters have spoken up following their retirement, as the declining viewership of the ITV program has raised questions about its continuation.

In the January edition of Prima magazine, Jayne and Chris shared their intentions of retiring their skates, discussing potential implications for the ice dancing performance they initiated.

The duo, famously recognized as Torvill and Dean, achieved widespread recognition after clinching gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, performing an unforgettable skate routine set to Maurice Ravel’s Boléro. This iconic performance is annually recreated by the finalists of Dancing On Ice.

Each year, the skating celebrities bring joy to Dancing on Ice audiences as they perform on the ice. However, if the show continues past January, this particular aspect of celebrity performances won’t be included anymore.

If “Dancing on Ice” carries on after its upcoming season, Jayne mentioned that we will remain involved, but our usual dance performances within the show may not occur. Instead, we’ll be present mainly to offer our judgment.

Discussing our upcoming retirement, Jayne mentioned, “We’ve been skating together for quite some time now, and it was back in 2024 that we celebrated 40 years since winning the Olympics.

However, we’ve come to understand that next year marks half a century of skating side by side. This is a momentous milestone in our professional journey, and the fact that we can continue to skate, even at a reduced capacity, is truly astounding.

Chris stated: “We won’t continue forever, but we wanted to have one more chance to skate. I believe 50 years is a substantial milestone, and it seems fitting for us. I feel we’ve accomplished everything else in skating except for one final show.

After retiring from their competitive phase, Torvill and Dean moved into coaching and choreography, frequently going on tours. In 2006, they became the recognized figures for Dancing on Ice.

The uncertainty over the upcoming skating performance arose when lead judges Jayne and Christopher announced their intentions to retire from skating.

The ITV series is slated to come back on TV screens in January, yet its continuation past that point remains uncertain.

Over the years, ratings for the competition have consistently decreased, and it appears that some former Olympic gold medalists are preparing for their retirement, as reported by The Mirror.

This could mean that the show’s 17th series is it’s last almost 20 years after it first aired. 

However, before this pair glides off into the sunset, they plan to embark on one last tour next year. Furthermore, they will still be adjudicating the performances of celebrities on the ice.

The potential exit of this duo might be the last straw for the show, as it would significantly diminish its appeal, given that they are among its most popular figures, even though they intend to remain as mentors and judges.

Chris told the publication that the future of the show will be known by the end of the series. 

He said: ‘By the end of the series we’ll know.

1) “We’re really eager for the show to carry on. It’s been a period of renewal for us, and since it began in 2006, it’s nearly been two decades of our lives involved too. We’ve spent more time working on Dancing On Ice than we did competing ourselves.

His partner Jayne explained: ‘We were part of it from the beginning.’  

In the latest season, viewership significantly dropped, reaching just 2.9 million viewers for one episode – a dramatic decrease from the series’ peak of 12 million viewers.

One challenge that ITV producers might face is the desire of their show’s host, Holly Willoughby (aged 43), who is rumored to be eager to broaden her professional horizons and explore fresh opportunities.

In spite of the possibility that some of their well-known personalities might be venturing towards new opportunities, ITV remains optimistic that stars like Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, aged 62, and Coronation Street actor Sam Aston, aged 31, will attract audiences once more.

Next year, the British ice skating pair will set off on a farewell tour across the UK. This tour will serve as their grand finale, symbolizing 46 years since they first joined forces as a skating team back in 1975.

In February, Dean announced their retirement, stating that they felt it was the perfect moment to hang up their skates since they are no longer young birds and wish to step down while they can still perform to some extent.

Dean commented, “Eventually, I believe there’s a point where one realizes,” and they did. “Though we’re no longer young like chicks in the spring, we can still manage it up to a level that makes us feel content, but this won’t last forever.

“Now seems like an ideal opportunity for us to take a trip down memory lane by going ice skating again, revisiting our old routines, and feeling nostalgic. But let’s also mix things up with some fresh, lively dances with friends from the skating community and Dancing On Ice.

He said that they are looking at the tour as a ‘celebration’ but predicts they will feel emotional about their final skate the nearer is gets.

He stated that along with feeling proud, I believe, of our accomplishments over the years – promoting competitive skating, organizing competitions, and providing entertainment via television – we will also take time to reflect on these achievements. However, this reflection won’t be tinged with sadness but rather with a sense of joy.

The January 2025 issue of Prima is now on sale. 

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2024-12-04 13:18

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