‘Dancing on Ice’s same-sex couple have a ‘responsibility’, say Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean
The Olympic ice skating champions will return as judges when the show airs in January
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have said the same-sex dance couple on Dancing on Ice have a ‘responsibility’.
When the hit ITV dancing competition returns next year, fans will be delighted to see Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins and Matt Evers take to the ice as the first ever same-sex dance couple in the show’s history.
And while head judges and Olympic legends Torvill and Dean are ‘excited’ about introducing a same-sex dance couple, they warned Watkins and Evers that there is a lot riding on them.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Dean said: “They have a responsibility as I think a lot of people will be watching them.
“I’m really fascinated to see how they treat the partnership, and what they do with it.”
Torvill – who won Gold in the 1984 Olympics with Dean – said that same-sex dancers are ‘unheard of’ in the ice-skating world.
She said: “I think if it became a thing, they would have to create a separate competition.”
Dean then added how since becoming head judges they have become more mindful about how to speak to contestants.
“It’s everyday talking to people. Everyone measures what they say. That’s etiquette,” Dean said.
“I don’t think we try to be nice [but] it’s very PC now. It’s more difficult.”
Dancing on Ice is set to return next year and John Barrowman will be replacing Jason Gardiner as a judge on the new series.