British ice dancing icons Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have taken their final bow in a poignant new ITV documentary, marking the end of a glittering five-decade career. 'Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance', which aired on Sunday, 28 December, follows the pair, now in their late sixties, as they embark on a farewell tour featuring adapted versions of their legendary routines.
An Emotional Farewell on Ice
The film provides an intimate look at the duo's preparations for their final performances, including their iconic, Olympic gold-winning Boléro and Summertime. It arrives amid reports that both are set to receive top honours in the New Year, with Torvill in line for a damehood and Dean for a knighthood. The documentary blends nostalgic archive footage with contemporary rehearsals, not shying away from moments of vulnerability, such as an alarming on-ice accident involving Jayne.
Viewers were quick to express their emotions on social media platform X shortly after the programme began. One fan wrote that the documentary was "actually making me a bit emotional," crediting the pair with single-handedly popularising figure skating across the UK. Another simply stated, "I could watch them perform all night." Many also echoed support for their impending honours, calling them "absolutely deserved."
Questions Over the 'Final' Curtain Call
However, the documentary's title, 'The Last Dance', prompted some scepticism from a section of the audience. Noting that a final performance was also announced during the last series of Dancing on Ice, one viewer questioned, "How many flipping times are Torvill and Dean going to do a 'final dance'?" Another suggested the show should have been called "Torvill & Dean: ANOTHER Last Dance."
Reflecting on their unprecedented journey, Chris Dean revealed in the film, "We never set out to be famous - we just set out to be the best in the world." Jayne Torvill added, "But we had to fight like mad to get there." The duo, who shot to global fame after receiving perfect scores for artistic impression at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, admitted they never expected to still be skating 50 years later.
A Lasting Legacy and Friendship
Torvill confessed that had the TV show Dancing on Ice not "come out of the blue," their careers would have ended long ago. Speaking about the emotional weight of the farewell tour, she said, "The memories are great but we want people to see who we are now." Chris admitted to a persistent fear of falling and joked that he would have thought anyone predicting this longevity was "mad."
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea," Jayne pondered, before confirming, "this is definitely it - the last dance." Despite leaving competitive performance behind, the bond that made them legends remains unbreakable. Chris Dean concluded, "We'll always be great friends," cherishing the "wonderful" memory of their final tour together. 'Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance' is available to stream on ITVX.
