Torvill and Dean call for same sex couples in Olympic skating

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have called for the introduction of same sex couples into Olympic skating.

The Dancing on Ice judges have urged the Olympic committee to make the rule change, telling The Sun: “All organisations are now open to diversity and inclusion. So, yes that’s the next step.”

The couple, who won gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics, added: “But it always comes down to how people are thinking and accepting at the moment.”

Dancing on Ice had its first same sex couple in 2020 when H from Steps was partnered with Matt Evers. On the current season of the show Brendan Cole was partnered with Brendyn Hatfield when Hatfield’s original partner Vanessa Bauer was forced to miss a week due to Covid.

Torvill and Dean also said that same sex professional dancing couples may also become a necessity: “Who’s to say in a few years time that could change because there’s actually a shortage of male figure skaters. So you might have to have same sex female skaters skating together.”

Strictly Come Dancing has also featured same sex couples with John Whaite and Johannes Radebe partnered together for the 2021 season.

The final of Dancing on Ice will take place on 27 March as it has been delayed due to clashing with an FA Cup tie on on 20 March.

Football fixtures had earlier disrupted the show’s commentary team with Sam Matterface not appearing on 6 February episode due to it clashing with the FA Cup fourth round.

The celebrities in the final are former Pussycat Dolls singer Kimberly Wyatt, ballroom dancer Brendan Cole and Paul Gascoigne’s son, Regan.

The most recent episode of Dancing on Ice featured a shock double elimination that saw The Vamps singer Connor Ball and BMX rider Kye White both dumped out of the competition ahead of the finals.