Torvill & Dean, the telemovie.

A telemovie on the early years of Olympic ice skating champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean has been announced in the UK by ITV.

Will Tudor (Game on Thrones, Humans) will take the role of Christopher Dean, and Poppy Lee Friar (Ackley Bridge, Eve) will play Jayne Torvill.

The script by William Ivory (Made in Dagenham, Burton and Taylor), Torvill and Dean (1 x 120) tells the story of the duo’s iconic partnership from both a personal and artistic perspective, including how Chris, following the breakup of his parents’ marriage, channelled his anger into skating and how Jayne, was outwardly reserved, and determined to explore her inwardly passionate nature. It explores how Chris and Jayne clashed as they separately and together tried to establish a new language for ice dance – one which won gold medals but also spoke to their private, intense relationship.

Anita Dobson (Call the Midwife, EastEnders) will take the role of Miss Perry, Jayne’s first coach at the Nottingham Ice Stadium, with Stephen Tompkinson (Trollied, DCI Banks) as Jayne’s father, George, whilst Jo Hartley (This Is England ’90) plays her mum Betty. Dean Andrews (The Moorside, Last Tango in Halifax, Silent Witness) and Christine Bottomley (Fearless,  Cucumber) will play Chris’s parents, Colin and Mavis, and Jaime Winstone (Babs, Ellen, After Hours) is Janet Sawbridge, the ice dancing instructor who pairs Chris and Jayne together for the first time.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean said: “We feel very honoured that ITV have commissioned this film based on what was a very significant period in each of our lives. 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.”

An Australian broadcaster is yet to be announced.