By Callum Wright
Skating and Olympic legends Torvill and Dean have announced that their last-ever performance together will be in Nottingham.
The duo announced on Monday (December 9) the end of their 32-date “Torvill and Dean: Our Last Dance” UK and Australia tour will now take place in Nottingham.
The pair have added three final shows at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena to say their final performance farewells on the ice in the city where it all began.
The tour was set to end in Perth, Australia on June 27 2025, but the new Nottingham dates on July 11 (2:30pm) and July 12 (2:30pm and 7:30pm) 2025 will now mark the finale.
This in addition to three shows that were already taking place in Nottingham on April 22 (7:30pm) and April 23 (2:30pm and 7:30pm).
It is 50 years since the pair first formed their iconic partnership in Nottingham. Both told Notts TV on Monday (December 9) they were delighted to create a fitting end to their incredible careers in their home town.
Both practiced on the ice together at the arena on Monday, and spoke about the challenges of going on tour one last time.
“Always glad to be back in Nottingham, we have so many here so looking forward to doing our last performances and shows here,” Jayne Torvill said.
“It all started here, 50 years ago, so to be able to come back and finish our final skate here, in this area where the old rink used to be, where we started and now this new facility here, we’re gonna be very excited but a little sad at the same time,” Christopher Dean added.
The duo’s tour will celebrate their career and achievements including multiple British, European and World titles, as well as their most famous performance of all, their gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
Talking about the content of the tour, Jayne said: “It’s really like telling the story of our careers and how it started and where we are today, it’s been a long time so there’s a lot of story to tell.”
Christopher added: “A lot of nostalgia as well, the 70s and 80s, the period that we grew up in right until the modern times.”
When asked about whether their infamous Bolero routine that won them the 1984 gold would be featured in the show, the pair replied “maybe” and smiled.
They will be joined by 15 professional skaters on the ice to help tell the story with both iconic numbers and newly choreographed routines.
Before reaching the pinnacle of figure skating and worldwide fame, Jayne grew up in Clifton and Christopher was raised in Calverton. Both were successful skaters before being partnered and coached together for the first time in 1975.
With such a long history as two of the Britain’s most successful and well-known sportspeople, both said their swansong will bring them a mix of emotions.
Jayne, 67, said: “I’m sure we’ll be very tired but very emotional at the same time.”
Christopher, 66, added: “It’ll be bittersweet, we’ve been skating together for 50 years so it’s time for us to hang our skates up but we wanted to do it one last time while we still could, and I think as we get closer to that final performance we’ll both be a little bit sad but at the same time they’ll be a sense of relief as well.”
Torvill and Dean confirmed it will only be retirement from performing and will be returning to screens on ITV1 in early 2025 as judges on the 17th series of Dancing on Ice.
Tickets for the tour are on sale at TorvillandDean.com.
