BREAKING THE ICE
Torvill and Dean’s tell-all movie
It’s a moment that captivated a generation – a spinning, twirling flash of purple on ice that bagged Great Britain a gold medal and inspired thousands of people.
The legend of Torvill and Dean still lives on – who can forget that Bolero number? – and now the story of ice partners
Jayne Torvill and
Christopher Dean will be told to a new audience, with a TV movie due to shed light on their close relationship, as well as their shared background growing up in state housing in Nottinghamshire.
“There are memories we didn’t even know we had,” says Christopher. “So much has happened since [then] that it was hard to remember everything. Looking back was emotional.
It’s only when you get older and reflect on what you did... they were amazing times.”
The world’s fascination with the pair – who were only ever platonic friends, save for one dalliance during their youth − has endured since their breakout performance at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
“The interest in Chris and me has never really gone away, especially since we started dancing together again and appearing on Dancing on Ice,” says Jayne. “We are more under the microscope in some ways.”
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the duo, who admit to “clashing” while creating the Bolero routine − a conflict that will be shown by the actors portraying the real-life athletes, Poppy Lee Friar and Will Tudor.
Revisiting the highs and lows of their lives for the movie proved intense, especially for Christopher. When he was a child, his mother deserted their family. His feelings of abandonment and insecurity led him to a skating rink, where he met Jayne.
The pair are still close, 45 years after the first time they skated together, something they still do both for fun and for events.
“As long as we feel we can do it and don’t look silly, we will continue to put the skates on or to mentor,” says Christopher. “It’s lovely when people say we have entertained them.”