SKATE expectations

JAYNE TORVILL and CHRISTOPHER DEAN on why this year's final will be spectacular, and preparing for their own last dance...

- VICTORIA WILSON

DANCING ON ICE

SUNDAY, 6.25PM, ITV1 ENTERTAINMENT 

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have a busy 15 months ahead. With this year marking the 40th anniversary of their gold medal-winning routine to Ravel’s Boléro at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, the Nottinghamshire ice-skating legends recently announced plans to retire from performing together following a UK tour, Torvill & Dean: Our Last Dance, in 2025.

Fans are set to get a taster of what’s to come when the Dancing on Ice head judges take to the rink themselves for a special turn during this Sunday’s live final of the ITV1 spectacular.

‘The sentiment of the song we’re performing to, people tend to apply to us now,’ teases Chris, as he and Jayne join TV Times for an exclusive interview. ‘This piece of music means something and the lyrics and the emotion of the song represents us.’

The final will see Jayne and Chris, along with fellow Ice Panellists Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo, watching the remaining four celebrities and their professional partners compete again, with the two couples who get the most public votes performing their own routines to Boléro to see who’ll glide off as Series 16 champions.

It’s always a special moment for Jayne, 66, and Chris, 65, who say it’s still anyone’s game…

There have been some phenomenal routines already. What do you think of the standard of talent this time?