ITV has announced a feature-length drama chronicling the early life and career of British ice-skating legends and 1984 Olympic gold medallists, Torvill and Dean.
The film has been written by prominent writer of film, television and theatre William Ivory (Made in Dagenham, Burton and Taylor), and will be directed by Gillies MacKinnon (Hideous Kinky, Small Faces)
Dramatising the story of Jayne Torvill and Chris Dean’s partnership, it will feature a host of British acting talent.
The story follows the pair’s motivations for taking to the ice, as Torvill found confidence in her dancing, and Dean channelled his anger from his parents’ separation into skating.
The drama will be produced by leading television production company, Darlow Smithson, which has previously produced real life scripted dramas Dave Allen at Peace and We’re Doomed! The Dad’s Army Story.
Will Tudor (Humans, Game of Thrones) will play Christopher Dean, and Poppy Lee Friar (Ackley Bridge, Eve) will play Jayne Torvill.
Joining them will be veteran of the small screen Anita Dobson (Call the Midwife, EastEnders) playing, Jayne’s first coach, Miss Perry, at the Nottingham Ice Stadium. Stephen Tompkinson (The Split, Trollied, DCI Banks) will portray Jayne’s father, George, and Jo Hartley (Bliss, Access All Areas, This Is England ’90) will play her mum Betty.
Dean Andrews (The Moorside, Last Tango in Halifax) and Christine Bottomley (Fearless, In the Club) will star as Chris’s parents and Jaime Winstone (Babs, Ellen, After Hours) will play Janet Sawbridge, the ice dancing instructor who pairs Chris and Jayne together for the first time. Susan Earl (So Awkward, I Want My Wife Back, Reggie Perrin) takes the role of Betty Dean, his step-mother.
“We feel very honoured that ITV have commissioned this film based on what was a very significant period in each of our lives,” Torvill and Dean commented.
“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 lifelong friendship that came through our sport and everything that it took to achieve our eventual goal of becoming Olympic champions.”
Filming is due to commence later this month.
