TVGUIDE ICE TO SEE YOU
With the grand final upon us, skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean discuss the standout routines of the series and who they’d like to participate in the show
Fans will remember this year’s Dancing On Ice for featuring some of the best skaters ever and welcoming a new judge, former Strictly professional dancer Oti Mabuse. Then, of course, there was the first routine by Happy Mondays star Bez.
“Twistin’ my melon man? Sure…” says judge Christopher Dean, laughing as we chat to him and ice dance partner Jayne Torvill ahead of the final.
Bez’s performance to the group’s hit Step On – complete with dancing watermelon slices – was TV gold. And despite him keeping viewers entertained each week, Bez became the fifth celebrity to leave the contest.
Tonight is the big final, with former Strictly dancer Brendan Cole, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and dancer Regan Gascoigne still in the mix. And according to Chris and Jayne, any of them could win...
Hi Chris and Jayne! What are your standout moments from this series?
Chris: I think Kimberly’s tango was a standout for me – and Regan’s Barnum. And Brendan with the umbrella. That was really lovely. Then there was Connor Ball’s shoeshine routine and Kye Whyte’s Artful Dodger.
Did you expect the final three to make it this far?
Chris:
Connor [Ball, The Vamps’ bassist] could have been in there. But, ultimately, I think these are the right finalists. Everybody wants to be in the final. It’s surprising how competitive it becomes. That was the case with the last five – the current finalists, Connor and BMX champ Kye [Whyte]. It’s like they’re almost in the Olympics….
Speaking of which, one couple will be knocked out before performing their interpretation of your routine…
Jayne:
Bolero
Yeah and it’s a shame. You know, they all want to do it, but that’s how the format works.
Who would be your dream signings for the show? Jayne:
Regé-jean Page from Bridgerton. Even if he couldn’t skate. We could just look at him!
Chris: Margot Robbie. She’s already done a skating movie
[I, Tonya] so she’d be good.
We’re going to see you both perform in the final. Do you ever feel it’s time to hang up your skates? Chris:
We haven’t got there yet – some people may think we should have!
Do you get nervous or excited before performing?
Chris:
If you get nervous it will bring out the best performance. You need that tension. But there’s the excitement of going out in front of the audience – it’s the combination of the two.
It must have been awful when former DOI skater Sean Rice died suddenly in January… Chris: It was a sad day for all of us. Sean had been very much part of the show. He’d been on tour with us. The skating pros are close, so it was a big loss.