Ice-skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are reportedly set to receive a damehood and knighthood in the King’s New Year Honours, marking a historic full-circle moment after more than five decades on the ice.
The duo, both now in their late 60s, were first appointed MBEs back in 1981 before being upgraded to OBEs in 2000. Despite years of public campaigning, their bid for higher honours was controversially rejected as recently as 2023. Now, following their emotional decision to hang up their skates after 50 years together, the long-awaited recognition is finally expected to arrive.
Torvill and Dean cemented their place in sporting history at the 1984 Winter Olympics, where their iconic Bolero routine earned them gold and changed figure skating forever. Their legacy later reached an even wider audience when they became the beating heart of ITV’s Dancing on Ice, first as performers and later as judges, inspiring generations of skaters and viewers alike.
Yet alongside the medals and milestones, speculation about their relationship has never truly faded. Although both are in committed relationships — Jayne has been married to Phil Christiansen since 1990, while Christopher began a relationship with fellow Dancing on Ice star Karen Barber in 2011 after two previous marriages — fans have long sensed something deeper beneath their on-ice chemistry.
That intrigue reignited in 2024 when the pair shared a kiss in Sarajevo while recreating their famous Bolero routine to mark 40 years since their Olympic triumph. The moment, filmed during a Valentine’s-themed performance, sent fans into meltdown once again.
Both have been candid about their past, admitting they shared a single kiss as teenagers and briefly considered being together, before deciding their careers had to come first. Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Christopher reflected that when they were younger, they crossed a line “for a minute”, but it didn’t last. He said they eventually realised they were best friends, a bond that has carried them to this point, 50 years on.
Jayne has also joked that people constantly ask about the secret behind their relationship, adding that the answer is simple: they never got married. Christopher was even more blunt, insisting they never slept together.
Earlier this year, the pair performed together for the final time in their hometown of Nottingham as part of their farewell tour, Torvill and Dean: Our Last Dance. With choreography packed with lingering looks, subtle kisses and unmistakable chemistry, it was a poignant reminder of why their partnership has captivated the nation for half a century.
Now, as they step away from the ice, a damehood and knighthood appear set to crown one of the most extraordinary sporting partnerships Britain has ever produced.
