Torvill and Dean reflect on the highs and emotions of their final tour
Calls for a statue of the ice skating legends have since been made
Skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have reflected on their last ever performance together, marking an emotional end to their illustrious career spanning five decades.
The pair retired from professional skating in 2024 – four decades after their historic Olympic gold medal win with their unforgettable Bolero routine at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games.
Their farewell tour, Torvill And Dean: Our Last Dance, began in April with performances across the UK before culminating in an emotional series of shows in their home town of Nottingham in July.
Speaking after the final event, Dean, 67, said: “The performance went well and the audience were amazing and so, for us, to be able to bow out on a high like that was wonderful.”
Torvill, 68, added: "It was a big moment but we just got back into that zone.
"When you've done all these shows like this, and you're suddenly home, not doing anything, you miss that adrenaline rush and you miss the excitement of being on the ice, whether it's a practice session or a performance."
Dean also reflected on the emotional nature of their farewell performances, commenting: "The earlier ones were quite emotional and I think I sort of got that out of me, and tonight, it was a high.
"We enjoyed it so much. The skating was good from our point of view, but the audience were phenomenal. They were the best audience ever."
The Chief Executive of the national ice centre has called for a statue of Nottingham’s world-renowned figure skating duo.
The iconic Bolero routine
For their last performances, the duo revisited their Olympic-winning routine, skating to Ravel’s Bolero at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena in front of adoring fans.
The routine, first seen at the Zetra Olympic Hall in Sarajevo where they made history, is considered one of the most iconic moments in British sporting history and contributed to their legacy as pioneers in the world of ice dancing.
Life after skating
As their long partnership on the ice comes to an end, Torvill and Dean have confirmed they will continue to work together on new projects, though skating will no longer be part of their plans.
Torvill explained: “We wanted to finish on a high while we still could."
Dean added: “The skates are literally being hung up.”
Both skaters are champions many times over, having secured Olympic gold in 1984, as well as titles at the World, European, and British Championships. They also returned to the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1994, where they won bronze.
After retiring from competitive skating, the pair dedicated their time to touring, coaching, and choreographing, becoming beloved faces of the TV show Dancing On Ice, where they served as head judges until earlier this year.
Documentary
To give fans a closer glimpse into their historic final tour, Torvill and Dean are featured in a documentary out today called Torvill And Dean: The Last Dance.
Dean said: "It does capture that fly-on-the-wall behind-the-scenes of what goes on, the ups and downs, and ultimately the final performance.
“And that will be the last time you see us skate."
The skating legends are set to continue working together on creative projects, but admitted nothing will fully replicate the excitement of performing live on the ice together.