Dancing On Ice’s Torvill and Dean address health concern as they announce retirement

Dancing on Ice judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have opened up about their health struggles after announcing their retirement from the ITV series

Dancing on Ice's Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean
Dancing on Ice’s Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have given an update on their health. (Image: ITV)
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Dancing on Ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have opened up about their health after declaring they’re set to retire.

They announced they will be hanging up their skates after 50 years as a partnership. Torvill, 67, said she is counting the cost of a lifetime of hardcore skating.

The Dancing on Ice star told Prima magazine: “We’ve never really stopped skating, and if we’re in a period when we’re not training together, we both use the gym quite a lot and keep fit that way.”

“If you’ve had a period of time when you’ve not skated, within 20 minutes on the ice, it’s back. It’s always there. It’s a bit like riding the bike story. But we’ve done it our whole lives and I think that’s a big asset in keeping us fit and healthy, although there are aches and pains every now and then.”

The formidable duo, with Dean now 66, initially teamed up back in 1975, and soared to fame by clinching gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. They’ve been presiding as head judges on Dancing on Ice since its tenth series in 2018.

Torvill and Dean
Torvill and Dean are set to retire after 50 years dancing together (Image: (Image: PA))

In this current run, celebrities such as former EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, rowing icon Steve Redgrave and Springwatch’s own Michaela Strachan vie under their seasoned scrutiny.

As for life after their upcoming professional bow out, Christopher Dean hinted at his future by affirming that he’s looking forward to taking a holiday, reflecting on how scheduling has dominated his life for so long, reports the Express.

In an interview with Prima, Torvill shared her perspective on retirement: “Retirement gives you the chance to try other things you’ve not had the chance to do. I’m not quite there yet, thinking I will have that freedom, because I know there’s a lot of work ahead.”

1984 Winter Olympic Ice Dancing
The pair won Olympic gold in 1984 (Image: (Image: Getty Images))

She added, “But it would be nice knowing in the future that I have that and maybe as the retirement gets nearer, I will have definite thoughts on what I want to do next.”

Meanwhile, on Dancing on Ice, Dean revealed their imminent departure from the ice rink, saying: “We’re 50 years skating together. It’s our last tour, last time round, so when we’ve finished the tour our skates will be hung up.”

The legendary ice skating duo, Torvill and Dean, are gearing up for their farewell tour, ‘Torvill and Dean: Our Last Dance,’ which takes place from April 12 to May 11. Fans can catch the next episode of Dancing on Ice airing on Sunday, January 19 at 6.30pm.