Jayne Torvill, 67, and Christopher Dean, 66, reveal their second Dancing On Ice performance during 2025 series will be their last EVER on TV together as they prepare for retirement

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have revealed that their second Dancing On Ice appearance during the 2025 series will be their last together on TV as they prepare for retirement.

The duo, known as Torvill and Dean, shot to fame when they won gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo with their iconic skate on Maurice Ravel’s Boléro – which is replicated every year by the Dancing On Ice finalists.

The skating stars surprise Dancing On Ice viewers every year as they take to the ice themselves, but they have now confirmed this will no longer be part of the ITV show.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the couple explained: ‘This is our last year so it’s a big year.

“We’re going to do two appearances during the series, but the second one will be our last ever on television.”

Reassuring fans that they will not be quitting Dancing On Ice, they added: ‘We will still do the show, but no more skating, finishing with our tour in the summer.

‘We have been with the show from the start and developed it together with ITV. It’s hard to know what impact it will have, and how we feel.’

Speaking about their impending retirement, they said: “We knew we would be hanging up skates at our 50th year.

“The idea of ​​not having a schedule will be different.”

Chris added: “We thought this year was a good time to do it. Now that we both have bus passes, it’s time.’

The British skating duo will embark on a final UK tour next year, which will be their swan song and mark 50 years since they formed their skating partnership in 1975.

Announcing their retirement in February, Dean said the pair agreed now was the “right time” to retire from skating because they “aren’t spring chickens anymore and want to walk away while they still can” to some extent’. rank.’

“I guess there comes a time when you know,” Dean said. “We’re not spring chickens anymore, but we can still do it to a certain extent, so we feel good about it, but we’ll be fine.

“So I think this is the right time for us to be able to do that and go skating and do some of the old routines, be very nostalgic, but then do some new fun, upbeat (dances) with friends from us from the skating world and from Dancing On Ice.’

He said they’re treating the tour as a “celebration,” but predicts they’ll get emotional about their final skate as it gets closer.

“We will also, I think, have a sense of pride in what we have done and continue to do over the years, bringing competitive skating and competitions and then entertainment through the TV screen,” he said. “I think we’ll think about it and look at it not in a sad way, but in a happy way.”

Jayne and Chris posed for a series of playful snaps at the Dancing On Ice photocall on Wednesday.

The ITV skating show returns to UK screens on Sunday with Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern at the helm, and fans were treated to promo footage of the celebrities and professional partners.

Among the stars taking part in this year’s competition are Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, TOWIE’s Ferne McCann and TV presenter Michaela Strachan.

The first images showed the celebrities taking to the ice in their costumes for the first time.

Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey looked stunning in a blue chainmail mini dress as she posed alongside her partner Andy Buchanan.

Judges Torvill and Dean, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo were also spotted looking glamorous as they prepared to pass judgment on the contestants’ skating each week.

TV presenter Michaela Strachan was also featured in the first look snaps, as she joined her skating partner Mark Hanretty.

Also pictured was actress Charlie Brooks, who stunned in a flared metallic bodysuit as she waited on hold with skater Eric Radford.

Ahead of the series launch episode, Sir Steve opened up about how his diabetes and a condition affecting his hands could affect his performance on the show.

The former athlete, 62, who has five Olympic gold medals to his name, is among a host of famous faces set to take to the ice when the ITV show returns this weekend.

Discussing his decision to participate, he said, “I’ve never had the opportunity before because my schedule was always so full because of my training.

‘The other reason is that Chris (Dean) and Jayne (Torvill) celebrated their 40th anniversary earlier this year when they won in Sarajevo (at the Winter Olympics), and it’s my 40th birthday too.

‘The show asked me to record a segment for Chris and Jayne and what they mean to British sport, both then and now, and at the end I said, ‘I guess you’re going to try and get me on the show now to get. ‘and here I am.’

Sir Steve won his first Olympic gold medal more than 40 years ago in the four coxswains at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Reflecting on what he was most nervous about, he said: “I’ve had diabetes for almost thirty years, so the feeling in my feet isn’t as good as it used to be, so navigating the ice can be an issue. .

‘I also have Dupuytren’s contracture, which affects my hands, preventing me from flattening them. So if I do fall over, even though I don’t intend to, I may have trouble getting up.”

Dupuytren’s contracture is when one or more fingers bend towards the palm and although it is not usually painful, it slowly gets worse over time, according to the NHS website.

Also joining the show are Traitors contestant Mollie Pearce, former EastEnders star Charlie, reality stars Dan Edgar and Chris Taylor, and Hollyoaks actor Chelsee.

The line-up is completed by presenter Michaela, comedian Josh Jones, former Premier League defender Anton Ferdinand and soap star Sam Aston.

In December, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey said she was ‘absolutely gutted’ when she announced she was withdrawing from competition after breaking her ankle.

Soap star Ryan Thomas and his professional skating partner Amani Fancy won Dancing On Ice last year.

The show returns on Sunday January 12 at 6.30pm, live on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.