They’re royalty on the rink and now ice skating heroes Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will become the subject of a new ITV standalone drama, aptly titled Torvill and Dean.
The short film will chronicle the duo’s early years, narrating the creative impetus that led to them becoming two of the most beloved sporting icons of all time.
Game of Thrones star, Will Tudor, and Ackley Bridges’ Poppy Lee Friar lead the star-studded cast as the titular Olympic champions.
Following the announcement today, Tudor tweeted: ‘VERY excited for this project!!! It is such an honour to get the chance to play a living legend :).’
And they’re joined by the cream of the crop as Jaime Winstone takes the reins as Janet Strawbridge, the dancing instructor who paired Torvill and Dean together – and subsequently who we need to thank for everything from their Bolero to Dancing On Ice -; EastEnders icon Anita Dobson, who stars as Jayne’s first coach, Miss Perry; as well as Dean Andrews and Christine Bottomley, who will play Dean’s parents.
‘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 enthused over their self-titled drama.
‘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.’
Writer William Ivory – of Maid in Dagenham fame – added: ‘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.’
Torvill and Dean is scheduled to begin filming later this month.
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