Torvill and Dean: Legends on ice

Few people could have been able to resist getting excited about the start of this month's new series of Dancing on Ice, ITV's celeb-studded ice skating championship. And among those for whom the beginning of the new competition couldn't come quickly enough are the hosts, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

For the country's Olympic figure skating heros, Dancing on Ice was like a new lease of life when it started back in 2006. After more than a quarter of a century competing and then touring with their own ice shows, they were both more than ready to get their skates off and put their feet up.

"We thought we'd be going back to Norwich Union," says Christopher, referring to Jayne, who used to be a secretary. "And to the police force," he adds, referring to himself.

The world's most famous ice dance duo first met when they were 15 and 16 and had both been abandoned by their respective partners back in Nottingham, back when they were grabbing the odd hour before the rink opened or after it shut to practise.

Christopher had received a pair of skates as a little boy from an ice enthusiast while Jayne, on the other side of town, had been on a simple school trip to a local ice rink and had fallen in love with it. By the time the two met, Chris was a junior champion and Jayne an accomplished pairs skater.

"I was actually quite good friends with Chris's partner," says Jayne. "Then when we met we got on well straight away because we both wanted to work hard – and we'd both been dumped."

Early days

Asked if there was ever any hint of romance between the two when they first started working together and they'll tell you that they were so obsessed with skating that there was no time for romance, either between them or with anyone else.

"Everything was geared around competitions," says Chris. And they immediately did well, moving from national championships to the international circuit even though they admit their amateurish juggling of police duties and training compared very unfavourably to the highly organised Russian skaters they were competing with.

"We didn't say we were going to win at the Olympics," says Chris. "We just wanted to do the best we could until it ended." Little did they know it was destined never to end. In 1979 they came fourth in the World Championships, realised they were in line for a medal next time round and decided to give up their jobs to see what would happen.

What happened was Olympic history. After living on a grant of just £14,000 between them for four years, they went to Sarajevo and skated away with a straight set of perfect 6s for their performance in the 1984 Olympic Games. It was, however, a highly stressful time for the two of them.

"Yes, but we trained and conditioned ourselves to such an extent that I think we were just going to go out there and perform no matter what," says Chris. "I think what happened was that we were able to put ourselves in that place, almost an hypnotic state you might say, and just go out and do what we needed to do.

"When we watch it now it's almost like two people we don't know. I can't remember it very well now, it was a long time ago."

But how did all that fame affect them personally? "It was definitely getting harder to go to Marks and Spencer's to buy your socks," laughs Chris, who was by that time one of the most famous sportspeople on the planet.

Show time

After the next World Championships, the pair decided to put their own show on the road. And needless to say, it was a smash hit. Then, a few more years later, Dancing on Ice came along.

"We really enjoy doing Dancing on Ice," says Jayne.

"Yes, it's great fun and a lot of hard work on everybody's part, but I think the end product and what comes out of it, and the amount of people who tune in is amazing," adds Chris.

The show's popularity has certainly had an effect on the entire nation, with ice skating having enjoyed a resurgence during the past few years. "Certain things take off and become the vogue and fashion of the moment, and the success of the show and the awareness that ice rinks are available, has popularised it and made people want to get out and go skating," says Chris.

Skating isn't the only thing the show has popularised, adds Jayne, who explains it has extended their fame to the younger generation. "I think that a lot of younger viewers hadn't heard of us before Dancing On Ice, and now they recognise us from that and come up and talk to us. Older people recognise us from our skating career. So it's nice to be known for both things."

According to Jayne, they were a little hesitant about taking part in the show when ITV bosses first told them what was involved. But after they thought things through, they decided it could be a great idea.

"In the beginning we had to sit down with the producers and hammer out a format, how we were going to make it happen," explains Chris. 'I think the key thing to this is not to turn up a week or two before, but that there has to be a real commitment on the celebrities' part to take this on.

"They have to start four months before the show to get ready, because you just can't put the skates on and expect to stand up and be somewhat competent. Once they put the skates on and get on to the ice, they realise the mountain they have to climb."

It's a highly enjoyable mountain, if the viewing figures for the show are anything to go by. And no doubt one most people hope to carrying on watching for many years to come.

Cream cravings

To look at Jayne Torvill now - a picture of health and vitality, not to mention an incredibly trim body – you'd have a hard time remembering how she piled on the pounds after she and Chris retired in 1998.

Jayne lost two stone and dropped four dress sizes after seeing herself bulging out of her costumes during the beginning of the first series of Dancing on Ice five years ago.

How did she do it? By sticking to a low-fat diet, says Jayne. And giving up one of her favourite foods - cream (which she allegedly even put on her cornflakes at one point).

Of course all that ice skating helped too, as well as the exercise regime she followed with personal fitness trainer Dan Little - which Jayne demonstrates on the DVD she released a couple of years ago called Lose It? With Jayne Torvill.

Skating for health

Ice skating originally came from Scandinavia and now is the foundation of several sporting activities, including figure skating (as in Dancing on Ice), speed skating and ice hockey.

But it can be a great way to improve your health too, even if you just skate for fun. Here's how:

• Heart health A vigorous ice skating session helps boost your cardiovascular system, giving your heart and lungs a really good work-out.
• Muscle strength Ice skating focuses on lower-body movement, which means it's great exercise for your leg muscles.
• Flexibility Skating on a regular basis can also keep your knees and ankle joints supple too.
• Balance Thanks to the way you have to balance on ice blades, ice skating can also help boost your sense of balance (though hopefully you won't have to fall over too many times to master it).
• Mental fitness Thanks to the amount of concentration you have to use when you're skating, as well as skills such as spatial awareness, a session on the ice can help boost your mental capabilities too.

To find an ice rink or join an ice skating club where you live, visit www.iceskating.org.uk or call the National Ice Skating Association on 0115 988 8060.