All the latest news on ITV’S upcoming Torvill and Dean drama
itv announces an all-star biopic lifting the lid on the ice-skating legends’ amazing rise to olympic glory…
We’re excited by the n-ice news that ITV has ordered a one-off biopic about the early years of Dancing on Ice judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean and the sacrifices they both made to achieve Olympic figureskating glory. Here’s everything
TV Times knows so far…
The story
The two-hour drama – which will look at Jayne and Chris’ iconic partnership from both a personal and artistic perspective – is written by William Ivory, who penned BBC4’S acclaimed film Burton and Taylor. ‘Chris and Jayne are such fascinating characters,’ says William, who, like the ice-skating legends, was born and bred in Nottingham. ‘They are sports people and athletes with all the grit and determination that entails, but real artists, too, engaging in deeply felt creative and emotional battles.’
ITV adds, ‘We’ll learn about their humble beginnings; how Chris, following the break-up of his parents’ marriage, channelled his anger into skating, and how Jayne was outwardly reserved and determined to explore her inwardly passionate nature. We explore how Chris and Jayne clashed as they separately and together tried to establish a new language for ice dance – one which won gold medals but also spoke to their private relationship.’
All-star cast
Ackley Bridge favourite Poppy Lee Friar has been cast as Jayne, with Game of Thrones and Mr Selfridge actor Will Tudor playing Chris. Eastenders legend Anita Dobson takes on the role of Miss Perry, Jayne’s first coach at Nottingham Ice Stadium, while Jo Hartley (This Is England ’90) and Stephen Tompkinson (The Split, DCI Banks) are Jayne’s mum and dad Betty and George. Dean Andrews (Last Tango in Halifax) and Christine Bottomley (In the Club) are Chris’ parents, Colin and Mavis, and Babs star Jaime Winstone is Janet Sawbridge, the ice-dancing instructor who paired Chris and Jayne together for the first time.
Jayne and Chris back it
The skating stars, who claimed gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo with their famous performance to Ravel’s Boléro, have given the new drama their seal of approval.
‘We feel very honoured that ITV has commissioned this film based on a very significant period in each of our lives,’ say Jayne and Chris, now both 60. ‘We have thoroughly enjoyed the time we’ve spent with William Ivory sharing experiences of our passion for skating, the lifelong friendship that came through our sport and everything that it took to achieve our goal of becoming Olympic champions.’
Filming is expected to start soon.