Torvill and Dean on retirement and young Scots following their path

Torvill and Dean with Isla Forsyth and Lewis Macdonald who play their younger selves.

As Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean prepare to skate off into the sunset, they know they’re leaving British ice dancing in a good place.

The legendary duo’s retirement show, Our Last Dance, heads to Glasgow next weekend not only celebrating their incredible career but giving audiences a glimpse of up-and-coming skating talent.

Youngsters Lewis Macdonald and Isla Forsyth, from Ayrshire, take on the roles of a young Jayne and Christopher as the show recounts their 50-year story from being paired up at the Nottingham Ice Rink as kids to their breakout Bolero moment and beyond to a glittering showbiz career.

“We never had that opportunity when we were young,” said Christopher. “Giving them a taste of performing in front of a big audience is hopefully eye-opening and makes them want to do even more.”

“It’s very sweet and they do it well,” Jayne said. “They act out the first morning we had on the ice together, which was very awkward!

“They have a routine they perform after that. It must be a great experience for them at such a young age to be performing in a big arena.”

Lewis Macdonald and cousin Isla Forsyth play young Torvill and Dean.

The retirement tour is a case of saving the best to last, the duo reckon, and is an opportunity to travel back in time and reminisce.

“When we do hang the skates up, we’ll be very happy because we’ve put together what we think is our best tour ever,” Christopher said. “Finishing on a high is fulfilling.

“People have found it very nostalgic. We’re putting them back in that place 40-50 years ago and where they were then as well. It’s a trip down memory lane.”

Reflecting on such an incredible career inevitably brings the realisation that a future without skating comes ever closer. The pair announced their impending retirement on February 14 last year – Bolero Day as they fondly call it – while in Sarajevo to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their gold medal-winning performance.

It was a hard decision, but the duo knew the time was right. Jayne is 67 and Christopher 66, and even though they keep fit, healthy and are still able to perform to the highest level, it won’t last forever and they want to go out on a high.

“We started at nine and 10 years old, so you can do the maths,” Christopher laughed.

“It feels right to say it’s time that we most probably retire or stop doing this while we can still perform it in a way we’re used to. You build a strong friendship and trust with each other, and that only comes with years of spending time together.

“Fred and Ginger did 12 movies together, Laurel and Hardy were together for 20-something years. If you think of all these double acts I think we’ve probably exceeded most of them!”

Jayne agreed, joking that the secret to it all was that they never ended up getting married.

“Beyond that, it’s that we still always had a passion for skating and enjoyed all the processes, the rehearsals and training as well as the actual performing. We love it all.

“We wanted to quit while we’re ahead. We’ve had the most incredible time, but as you get older, you can’t do all the things you used to as easily, your body doesn’t let you.”

It’s not their first retirement, having paused performances back in 1998 to coach and choreograph separately. But then came Dancing On Ice, which rejuvenated their careers and would have been celebrating its 20th anniversary next year had it not been put on hold by ITV.

“At first we didn’t know how it would work,” Jayne said. “It was our first venture into actual TV because all our previous work was live performances. It was a great opportunity and we’re glad we took it.

Christopher added: “It’s a vital part of why we’re still here today. We owe a lot to it. We thought it would be a one season thing, but how wrong were we?”

After final shows back where it all began in Nottingham, the duo will have plenty of spare time for other ventures – or just to relax.

“I’m looking forward to not having a schedule,” Jayne admitted. “Being able to spontaneously say ‘Let’s go and do this’ or get on a plane or just do something spur of the moment.”

Christopher jokingly talked about taking up beekeeping, but he has also become an adventure sport fan.

“I’ve done a bit of motor racing, skydiving and scuba diving,” he said. “I don’t know if in my old age I need that adrenaline rush. I used to have a motorbike – I might get another one.”

Jayne laughed: “I think you should stick to the bees!”

It’s clear that long after their last Bolero, the pair will still be firm friends. But will they miss taking to the ice night after night?

“I love it as a medium to express yourself, it feels like flying,” Christopher said. “You don’t have that speed and movement anywhere else. When you’re ready, you know. We’ve done all we can do and that we want to do. It’s like finishing a wonderful meal – don’t overindulge it. Some may say we already have!”

Young guns

They’re more used to performing in front of a couple of hundred people, but young skaters Lewis Macdonald and Isla Forsyth took Wembley Arena in their stride.

The cousins, from Ayrshire, are champion figure skaters and play young versions of Torvill and Dean on their retirement tour.

“It’s great to be able to say you’ve performed at Wembley Arena,” said 13-year-old Lewis. “It was amazing being backstage where lots of pop stars and famous people have been.”

Isla, 12, said: “It was super fun and exciting, an amazing experience.”

They’re coached by Lewis’s mum Suzanne Otterson-Macdonald, a former Olympic skater, and his aunt Gillian Otterson, but they’ve now got extra expertise to call on.

“It’s a dream come true,” Isla said. “I’ll always remember Jayne giving me a big hug on opening night and telling me how well I’d done.”

Lewis added: “It’s absolutely amazing because we love Dancing On Ice. We’ve been watching them for a while, getting ideas. At our rehearsals in Braehead, we had a lesson with them, as well as Karen Barber. It was quite surreal we were actually on the ice with them.

“It was quite scary at first, but once you get to know them, you relax a bit!”

Lewis and Isla have picked up plenty of advice from the array of incredible talent in the show, which includes Olympians and Dancing On Ice winners.

“On tour, a couple of the pros said they loved our jumps and that they were very impressed,” Lewis said. “It’s been inspiring.

“I want to keep progressing, looking up to people and getting inspired – and maybe reach the Olympics one day!” Isla added: “I want to cherish and enjoy every moment of my skating journey. I’ve already had the most amazing experiences and I want to work hard to keep improving.”

Coach and proud mum/auntie Suzanne said: “This has been an amazing experience for them with memories to cherish forever.”

Torvill & Dean are at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, May 10-11. torvillanddean.com