Crowd 'blows the roof off' to thank skating stars for 50 magical years

CITY HOSTS TORVILL & DEAN'S LAST PERFORMANCE

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

THE cheers were deafening as the curtain came down on Torvill and Dean's illustrious 50-year career on the ice.

Fans were on their feet, applauding and whooping, as Nottingham's skating royalty said farewell at the end of their final performance before a 5,000-strong crowd at the Motorpoint Arena.

It would have been a travesty for Nottingham if the UK leg of the Our Last Dance tour had ended in Glasgow, as originally planned. After 41 shows across the UK and Australia - the country they first performed after turning professional - it was entirely fitting that Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean bowed out at the “sacred” location where they first danced on the ice together.

After a rousing sendoff on Saturday evening, Chris said the earlier shows in the city had been emotional and, despite looking a little teary as they each thanked their “partner and best friend”, they ended with smiles and a hug. Chris told the crowd: “Tonight will be in our hearts and memories forever.”

During the show their smiles had never been bigger, almost as if they were savouring every last moment in the packed-out arena.