Torvill & Dean (film)

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Torvill & Dean
GenreBiopic
Written byWilliam Ivory
Directed byGillies MacKinnon
ComposerAndrew Simon McAllister
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersVictoria Fea
Emily Dalton
William Ivory
ProducerEmma Burge
Production locationNorthern Ireland
CinematographyDamien Elliott
EditorAnne Sopel
Running time95 minutes
Original release
NetworkITV
Release25 December 2018 (2018-12-25)

Torvill & Dean is a British television biopic written by William Ivory, directed by Gillies MacKinnon, and broadcast on ITV on Christmas Day 2018. It is about the early life and careers of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the Nottinghamshire ice dancers who went on to record a perfect score and win the Olympic gold medal in Sarajevo at the 1984 Winter Olympics.[1][2]

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

British Olympic ice skaters Nick Buckland and Penny Coomes joined the cast as stunt doubles, and acted as consultants. Torvill and Dean were interviewed extensively by Nottinghamshire-born writer William Ivory and gave their blessing to the biopic. Cassie Bradley performed her own ice skating for the role of Leanne, having grown up in Nottingham and attended school with friends Buckland and Coomes.[3]

Reception[edit]

The film was watched by 7.74 million viewers in the UK.[4]

Lucy Mangan in The Guardian gave the biopic 5 stars praising the ‘perfect adaptation’ and ‘genuinely brilliant’ performances by Will Tudor and Poppy Lee Friar.[5] The Daily Telegraph also praised the ‘perfect nostalgic festive fare’ with ‘broad humour and gentle observation’.[6] The Independent was more critical giving 2 stars and commenting on the ‘schmalz’.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Meet the cast of Torvill and Dean on ITV". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Torvill and Dean cast: who stars in the ITV Christmas Day drama?". Inews.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. ^ "When is ice-skating biopic Torvill and Dean on TV this Christmas?". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Weekly top programmes on four screens (from Sept 2018) | BARB". Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  5. ^ Mangan, Lucy (25 December 2018). "Torvill and Dean review – another perfect 6.0 for Britain's favourite skating duo". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Torvill & Dean, review: ice skating's 'love story' is perfect festive fare". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. ^ "ITV's Torvill & Dean is a frictionless retelling in which every rough edge is rubbed smooth – review". The Independent. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.