Back to the 80s: Dancing On Ice turns back time 30 years for special show dedicated to Torvill and Dean’s 1984 Winter Olympics win

It was back to the 80s – specifically 1984 – for week six of ITV’s Dancing On Ice on Sunday night.

Thirty years ago this month the show’s mentors Torvill and Dean made history when they performed their world-stopping Bolero routine in the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.

To celebrate, and timed nicely for this year’s Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, was Dancing On Ice’s 1984 themed week which featured plenty of neon, leg warmers and great hits from the era. It also featured a beautiful new routine, themed around the 80s, from Torvill and Dean themselves.

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The Power of love: Torville and Dean were breathtaking for their new 80s-themed routine

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Magic on Ice: Torvill & Dean performed a special performance to The Power of Love for the 80s themed show

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Back to 1984: Torvill and Dean performing at the Winter Olympics 30 years ago

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The Power of Friendship: Torvill & Dean skated to Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s The Power Of Love hit

The show opened with a dance number to Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine’s Dr Beat which was all about bright coloured pieces of stretch fabric, then leading into Duran Duran’s The Wild Boys.

Hosts Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley didn’t exactly get into the theme of things with their outfits…or did they?

‘Everything has been dipped in 80s razzamatazz,’ Christine said before giving a quick flash of her hidden green neon leg warmers under her dark evening gown and pointing out Phillip had on his beloved 1984 piano keys tie.

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Hiding something: Christine (second left) was wearing green neon leggings under her evening gown for the show as she stood with Phillip and Torvill and Dean

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Phillip and Christine reveal their 1984 selves to the world on the show

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Showcase: the 80s Set pieces on the show were amazing and beautifully created

Then there was a flashback of the winning Olympics routine to Bolero from Torvill and Dean, who appeared to show their gold medals.

‘We’ve come to appreciate Bolero and it’s like a really good friend,’ they said. ‘We’ve become really good friends too – finally!’

The pair revealed they have been invited back to Sarajevo to recreate their performance and also that they would be performing on Dancing On Ice to Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s 1984 classic The Power Of Love.

On the Ice Panel things were slightly different with Karen Barber as lead judge and special guest host Nicky Slater sitting in for Robin Cousins, who is currently commentating for the Sochi Olympics.

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Pretty in pink: Suzanne and partner Matt were thinking pink for their Dancing on Ice 80s performance

Actress/singer Suzanne Shaw was up first with partner Matt Evers skating a fun routine to Let’s Hear It For The Boy from Deniece Williams and the Footloose movie.

Suzanne wore a bright pink outfit with lots of heavy make-up and her hair with plenty of crimping.

The spirited performance was full of panache and dazzle and great moves, not to mention some great bodypoppping from Suzanne. The crowd were on their feet to cheer her on for a routine that really showed her sparkly personality.

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Head band a go-go: Suzanne wore a rainbow headband for her performance

When it came to the judges, Suzanne’s total was 32.5 out of 40.

‘What an exciting start to the show and we are celebrating the 80s and that is what you did,’ judge Karen told Suzanne. ‘You are back.’

Nicky thought the presentation were excellent, while Jason said no one could fault her for a wonderful performance but ‘more novelty over content. You do push the envelope and tonight I missed that a lot and you missing your own personal bar.’

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Judges choice? Suzanne even managed to get the judges involved in her routine

Suzanne said ‘it was for us about embracing the 80s and a comedy piece about me fancying Matt every day which I do!’

Jayne Torvill said they wanted the routine to be about a lovesick teenager and said she loved how they keep up their characters the whole way through.

Wearing her rainbow headband, Suzanne then headed off the rink.

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Queen time: Sam was channelling the band’s Freddie Mercury on ice

Former EastEnders Sam Attwater was next wearing a moustache, as co-host Christine pointed out, ‘and he’s not afraid to use it either’.

Sam, looking like a young Freddie Mercury of Queen, skated to Queen’s Radio Gaga.

Sam, who wasn’t even born in 1984 (he’s 27), wore plenty of black vinyl, while partner Vicky Ogden was in a flashy black and red aerobics-style outfit with punky hair looking like a very young Jane Fonda. They executed some amazing moves which dazzled the audience as Sam mouthed the words as if he really was Freddie Mercury.

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Punktastic! Vicky wore a punky wig and an outfit that screamed Jane Fonda aerobics in 1984

It was then over to the judges for their critique of their performance who awarded the pair a 31.5.

Jason noted ‘Freddie Mercury was one of the world’s most charismatic performers but the problem was you is you were so in your head that you were pedestrian and you weren’t selling the number. I would have at least have liked to have seen you look like you had enjoyed yourself a little. There was no excitement in that performance.’

Karen said ‘we did see that nod to the music and we saw that you lost focus’ dressing down Jason for his ‘rude’ comments. Nicky said he wanted ‘more Freddy’ having actually seen Queen perform live at Wembley in 1986.

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Gaga indeed! Queen’s Radio Gaga is the song that inspired Lady Gaga’s name

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The 80s were back for Sam and Vicky!

Sam said he agreed with the judges comments.

‘Freddie was so iconic and known by the world and to bring that in I tried to put it all in,’ he said adding, ‘and bring Freddie on Ice was even harder. I enjoyed it and that was the main thing.’

Christopher Dean said the routine was quite difficult and ‘the partnership is the important thing and he is in tune with Vicky throughout’.

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The big ending from Sam and Vicky’s 1984-inspired performance

Third up on the rink was Gareth Gates, who was channelling 1984 era George Michael of Wham!, with partner Brianne Delcourt to the band’s Freedom hit.

Wearing a fluffy blond wig, Gareth remained as the only non-winner of a previous series to still be in this all-stars edition of the show.

Though the song choice was great and the outfits perfect – right down to Gareth’s white Wham! style outfits (with ‘Choose Gareth’ emblazoned on it) – they also go into some bodypopping on the ice.

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Swinging times: It was back to the 80s for Gareth and Brianne

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Wham bam: Gareth chose to do a routine to Wham!’s 1984 hit Freedom

While ‘Gates skates’ looked great doing a lot of the movements, was it enough to impress the judges with his ‘wham bam thank you Brianne’? Sadly no.

The judges awarded him a total of 29, although it was a series best for Gareth.

Ashley Roberts said she loved Gareth’s ‘snake action on the show’ and how he ‘whammed it out’. Jason said he heard Wham but he saw Bucks Fizz. ‘You clearly do naff very well mate,’ Jason said cheekily.

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Gareth before his 80s transformation…and after! George Michale eat your heart out!

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Choose Gareth: That was what was emblazoned on his shirt for his 80s themed routine earlier in the night

Gareth was please but added ‘this wig is a nightmare on ice’.

Jayne Torvill said that when Gareth is given a character he pushes himself and deserves to be among the winners tonight.

Next up was former Emmerdale actress Hayley Tamaddon and her ice partner Daniel Whiston.

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Opening moment: The beginning of Hayley’s deeply felt routine to one of Eurythmics’ moodiest hits

Hayley was given a challenge this week of doing an emotional performance to Eurythmics’ moody electro ballad Hear Comes The Rain Again.

Remembering not to show any jazzhands and feel some real emotion, Hayley’s routine started on chairs in the middle of the ice, which was beautifully choreographed, before they skated around the rink and executed some clever twists and turns, with Hayley truly getting into her wounded woman routine.

The crowd were on their feet to applaud the routine, while the judges gave them 36.5 out of 40 which instantly put them in the lead.

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Bringing the emotion: Hayley brought her strong wounded woman look to her routine

‘This was a refreshing change for you to see,’ Jason told Hayley. ‘This had a lot of emotion and a lot of passion and you felt every nuance of that.

Ashley said the commitment and chemistry she showed in her performance was great.

Nicky called the routine ‘so beautiful’ while Karen said ‘it’s not always about the big tricks and you showed depth. It was lovely.’

Hayley said: ‘these are really happy tears. I never cry. I love this sort of stuff. I love the jazzhands but this emotional stuff I am so pleased we got it.’

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Finishing tears: Hayley go so into character she cried for real afterwards

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80s Ladies: Judges Karen Barber (left) and Ashley Roberts (right)

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Judge Nicky Slater was filling in for Robin Cousins who was in Sochi for the Winter Olympics

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This week’s Ice Panel: (L-R) Karen, Nicky, Ashley and Mr Potatohead aka Jason

Then it was time for a break in the competition while Torvill and Dean celebrated the 80s with a brand new routine.

Skating to Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s The Power Of Love ballad,the duo managed to update their Bolero routine into a slinky, more mature routine wearing only black leather, lycra and black tops.

Dazzling the crowd with not just their skating prowess but the depth of emotion they could show for the beautiful routine, it was truly a world class performance by a pair who set the benchmark for others to follow.

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Grace and poise: Torvill and Dean showed off their world-beating style yet again on the show

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Perfect motion: Torvill & Dean were faultless in their beautiful new routine

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The power of lifting: Christopher puts Jayne above her back to fly without wings

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Old friends: Christopher and Jayne’s performance was spellbindingly powerful

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Phillip and Christine were happy to recall the 80s – with some help from Mr Potatohead (aka Judge Jason)

Actor Ray Quinn and ice partner Maria Filippov then chose to go heavy metal for their 1984 routine – skating to Van Halen’s Jump hit from the year.

Wearing leather trousers and a long rockers wig, Ray looked like he was having the time of his life on the ice, if not living out his rock star dreams.

Executing a great jump, just as the song said, Ray’s routine was more than memorable, it was another performance to beat.

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Heavy metal on ice: Ray was ready to jump for his performance

The judges obviously thought so too. Karen awarded them a 10., Nicky a 9.5, Ashley a 10 and Jason a 10 with a grand total of 39.5.

‘It was amazing,’ Karen said, while Jason said ‘Ray you are blurring the lines between the pro and the celeb – i can’t even fault you and I’m very critical as you know. It is delivered with such panache and so awe-inspiring to watch.’

Nicky noted Ray was ‘a little scratchy’ but applauded his commitment to six jumps ‘and I compare him to the best in the world. The last two jumps were really strong. It’s a fantastic performance but not quite perfect for me yet.’

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Ray executed six big jumps during his routine to the delight of the judges

‘I liked the ode to Van Halen kick too,’ Ashley added.

Philip pointed out that Ray may have actually raised the finger accidentally as he was so in character as a heavy metal rock star.

Jayne Torvill called the performance ‘fantastic’ adding ‘you deserved all those scores’, while Christopher Dean said Ray ‘delivered it tonight’.

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Almost perfect: Ray scored 39.5 from the judges for his Jump routine

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Rock’n’roll: Van Halen’s Jump was a huge hit in 1984 across the globe

Former rugby union player Kyran Bracken, suffering from tendonitis, and partner Nina Ulanova chose to perform to Foreigner’s big hair ballad I Want To Know What Love Is, which has also been covered by Mariah Carey.

Wearing jeans and a red headband, Kyran looked like a forgotten member of 80s hitmakers Dire Straits, but the performance while not quite fuel-packed was more emotive than he is usually known for.

The judges gave his routine a tidy 33 which equals his series best.

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Phillip Schofield inhabits the time travel world of 1984 on the show

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Kyran wanted to know what love is from the judges from his routine

That wig has seen to have given you some strength and control over your choreography,’ judge Jason told him. ‘I applaud you for striving to come out and continuing to improve yourself.’

Ashley said she really got engaged in the ‘power ballad moment’.

Nicky said that there were a couple of mistakes which took the performance down a few notes but added ‘it was softy and beautiful’. Karen said ‘it could have been much better but there were parts that unravelled’.

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Fulll of emotion: The judges gave Kryan his equal highest score to date

Kyran asked if he could get through this week whether he could wear the wig every week.

‘For me it is important to keep the performance as high as possible and I want to skate again next week,’ he told the hosts.

The retro rollercoaster ride ended with Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle and her ice partner Lukasz Różycki .

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Beth wanted to show her fun girly side and chose the perfect song

The pair skated to Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have Fun, with Beth wearing a very Cyndi Lauper-inspired bright wacky outfit of pink and yellow with plenty of extra strands of colours in her auburn wig.

They even power popped on stage throwing some great acrobatics on the carpet before they stepped back on the ice to finish their performance with the splits on ice.

It was a great performance from the reigning winner of Dancing On Ice. The judges awarded her a total of 34.5.

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Beth wanted to show her fun side with this performance – and her athletic ability

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Off the rink and on to the carpet: Beth threw some seriously funky moves

‘You took all the advice you did to let go,’ Karen told her. ‘You are learning every week and trying to improve every week.’

Nicky said he wasn’t so impressed that a lot of the gymnast moves were off the ice, while Jason countered with ‘finally we got to see what you do – you bring something new to your routines. What you did was brilliant was that you let go and I really did believe that you were a girl having fun.’

Ashley said this was her number one karaoke song with her girls and noted ‘you really committed with that last split’.

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Girl fun: Beth skated to Cyndi Lauper’s signature hit

‘I wanted to try and show that I have a fun side,’ Beth revealed. ‘It allowed me to relax a bit and I loved doing that routine.’

Jayne said ‘we wanted Beth to be comfortable doing her thing’ with big hair and even bigger pink stiletto boots.

After all seven performances it was Ray and Maria at the top with 39.5 and Gareth and Brianna on the bottom with 29. Viewer voting later in the evening would then decide who was safe and who would be skating off the ice for good.

Dancing On Ice airs on Sunday evening on ITV at 6:15pm.

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Stars on ice: As the voting continues the contestants await the result