Dancing On Ice's Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean make huge announcement about future

Dancing on Ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have announced they will perform for the last time on live TV in the upcoming series, admitting they are 'too old' to carry on.

The British figure skating duo secured 16 gold medals throughout their time competing at World, European and British Figure Skating Championships before retiring in 1998.

They claimed victory at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, captivating 24 million viewers with a performance to Maurice Ravel's Bolero, marking one of Britain's most iconic TV moments.

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Despite performing on Dancing on Ice since its inception in 2006, this year marks the end for Torvill and Dean as professional skaters.

"This will be our last live skate - here on Dancing on Ice," Christopher announced. "We're doing our last tour this year as well so once we've finished our last skate on tour, we won't be performing again. There are lots of endings."

At 66, Christopher expressed his readiness to close this chapter, reflecting on their extraordinary five-decade journey.

"We've been doing it a long time and people our age shouldn't be doing it now," he remarked. "So we're just happy that we can still do it", reports the Mirror.

Jayne, at 67, is set to depart the ice alongside him, bringing an end to a stunning career.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the iconic ice-skating duo will no longer perform on Dancing on Ice but will keep their judging role alongside Ashley Banjo from Diversity and Oti Mabuse, formerly of Strictly Come Dancing. Jayne reflected: "Dancing on Ice feels like our baby because we were approached by ITV in the early days and we came up with this format together of how it might work.

"We didn't know much about TV but they didn't know how skating works so together, the programme developed and it's great that we were there from the beginning."

Christopher has plans to pursue an unexpected new hobby after retiring from skating. He indicated his interest in apiary pursuits. "I've taken up beekeeping. It sounds like a good thing to do," he explained.

"It just sounds so idyllic. It's outdoors, it's gentle."

Hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, the latest series of Dancing on Ice welcomes contestants such as Charlie Brooks from EastEnders, ex-footballer Anton Ferdinand, Mollie Pearce of The Traitors fame, wildlife expert Michaela Strachan, and Olympic champion Steve Redgrave. With competitors exhibiting impressive skill levels, Jayne and Christopher noted that Coronation Street's Sam Aston has shown a natural aptitude.

"Sam has taken to it quite naturally," observed Chris. Jayne also mentioned her admiration for another contestant: "I was impressed by Anton as well. I like his attitude because of his football background."