Skating duo have to keep their distance
NOTTINGHAM ice skating duo Torvill and Dean have been hand in hand performing on our TV screens for 40 years.
However, with new coronavirus lockdown restrictions, the duo have opened up about how it will be “strange” not being able to hug each other when Dancing On Ice returns this weekend.
Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill, who won a gold medal together at the 1984 Winter Olympics, will now communicate with a perspex screen between them or wearing masks at all times in the studio because of the coronavirus.
The hit ITV programme – where both skaters appear as judges – is set to return to our screens tomorrow evening with a raft of major, Covid-19-related changes.
Opening up about some of the new rules on set, both Torvill and Dean say it’s going to be a different experience.
Calverton-born Chris said: “I can’t touch Jayne and dance with her and skate with her.
“We have to have our two metres’ separation or at least a screen separating us and we have to talk through masks when we’re off camera. It’s completely surreal.”
Jayne added: “I haven’t met up with Chris in person yet this year. It will be strange that I can’t give him a hug, I will have to keep remembering.”
The good news is the pair pre-recorded “two or three” routines together late in 2020 which will be edited into the hit show, so thankfully fans will still see them perform and show the celebs how it is done.
Looking ahead to the weekend, 63-year-old show Jayne is just thankful the series is beginning and able to take place at all.
She said: “I’m obviously excited to be starting the show again, the fact that we’ve all been able to make it happen.
“Lots of my friends have said for the last couple of weeks, ‘Oh, we can’t wait for the show to start. We really need this now. We need something in January’.
“Particularly as we’ve just gone into a new lockdown and people can’t do anything.
“It’s such a family show and so exciting to watch. I can’t wait and I hope the viewers are going to enjoy it and get some fun out of it.”
■ Dancing On Ice starts on ITV on Sunday night at 6pm.