Former EastEnders star Anita Dobson features in the story of the young Torvill & Dean
Torvill & Dean, which tells the story of the early years of skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, is one of the highlights of ITV’s Christmas line-up.
The one-off explores their first meeting as teenagers in Nottingham in the 1970s right through to them winning Olympic Gold with Bolero in 1984.
Game of Thrones actor Will Tudor stars as Christopher Dean, while Ackley Bridge actress Poppy Lee Friar plays Jayne Torvill.
Writer William Ivory says: “It’s been such a privilege to work on this piece. Chris and Jayne are such fascinating characters: sports people and athletes with all the grit and determination that entails, but real artists, too, engaging in deeply felt creative and emotional battles.”
When is Torvill & Dean on TV?
ITV is yet to confirm an official date, but it’s expected to be on over Christmas. Torvill & Dean is two hours long.
Who else is in the show?
The cast also includes ex EastEnders star Anita Dobson as Miss Perry, Jayne’s first coach at the Nottingham Ice stadium, with Wild at Heart’s Stephen Tompkinson as Jayne’s father, George, and Access All Areas actress Jo Hartley as Jayne’s mum, Betty.
Also in Torvill & Dean are Dean Andrews and Christine Bottomley as Chris’s parents, Colin and Mavis, and Jaime Winstone as the dancing instructor who pairs the skaters together for the first time.
What do the real Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean make of it?
Well, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean commented: “We feel very honoured that ITV have commissioned this film based on what was a very significant period in each of our lives.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed the time we have spent with William Ivory and the team at Darlow Smithson sharing experiences of our passion for skating, the life long friendship that came through our sport and everything that it took to achieve our eventual goal of becoming Olympic champions.”
