00:00Britain's new Torval and Dean are spicing up the ice.
00:06Lila Fear and Lewis Gibson will dance to a Spice Girls medley in a bid to follow in the skate tracks of their idols.
00:13They want to be Olympic champions in February.
00:16And they really are flying the Team GB flag.
00:19Lila in a sparkly Union Jack dress, a homage to Ginger Spicer's iconic outfit.
00:26Like Jane Torval and Christopher Dean they will be doing it on Sheffield Steel skating on John Wilson Blades made at the city's world famous factory in Rutland Way.
00:37They get to preview their Olympic routine just days before the Winter Games when they also go for gold at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships at Utility Arena in Sheffield January 13-18.
00:52The Otley Tip duo and their idols told us all about it at the inaugural Bolero Cup won by Lila and Lewis debiting their routine with a trophy presenter by Torval and Dean at Ice Sheffield.
01:07First up I congratulated Torval and Dean after 15 years on the ice and there our last dance tour. Was it emotional and what was the reception from fans like?
01:17Well it was the whole tour for us was our final tour so each date that we played we weren't ever going to do that again.
01:25So as far as emotions were concerned it wasn't until we got to our final four shows in Nottingham, our hometown.
01:34Prior to the actual show you know there was a lot of emotion a lot of talk about how we're going to feel and you know when we actually got to the shows and indeed the final show.
01:45It for us it was the usual thing that we wanted to give a good performance and have a great audience and we got both of those things didn't we?
01:53Yeah we've been working for 50 years to get to that point and so our preparation was all done by that time and I think you know you kick into that mode of you know what you've got to do and as usual just before curtain goes up as the music's playing we all say have a good show.
02:12And that's it out and you go and the autopilot but the actual emotions start to come out and so for us yes it was wonderful to be able to do our final performance where it all started in Nottingham.
02:27And is that it literally that's it?
02:30That's it that's all we're going to do we're we've made a decision that you know we're of an age now that we shouldn't be skating anymore.
02:39We still do that age-appropriate skating so you know there's an old saying that leave the stage before the stage leaves you.
02:48Well you've left us wanting more.
02:50In terms of wanting more obviously Dallas and I have been rested this year but are we likely to see that back? Will there be a Christmas special? What else have you got planned?
03:00There will be a Christmas special. The whole tour that we just did was recorded and they did all the background to it all the preparations and so you'll see behind the scenes and the emotion and all the performances that went into it as well but also
03:19you know get to know the characters get to know how it's all done and put together and then that performance.
03:25And you're keeping yourselves busy still in the public light even now I mean we've got the Bolero Cup here in Sheffield. Jane tell me just a little bit about that.
03:35Well we still have other things that we're doing that doesn't involve performing on the ice but we're very excited when we learned that the Bolero Cup is a new competition, new international competition.
03:48And obviously I'm delighted that we're going to be here to present the trophy.
03:53And then we've got the ISU European figure skating championships at Utilita Arena in Sheffield January 13th to the 18th followed by the Winter Olympics in February.
04:05And very special today we've got the next superstars of Ice Dance with us as well Lila Fia and Lewis Gibson.
04:14And this is just amazing to get you all together in the same room. So Jane and Christopher what advice would you give them in terms of handling the European and Olympics pressures and expectations?
04:28I think Lila and Lewis know exactly what they need to do. They've been competing together now for several years and their experience will kick in and they've felt the pressure and it's been a build for them.
04:43And to be honest from our point of view I don't know how they cope because we never had social media.
04:50We had three TV channels and a few newspapers and that was all we had to deal with but today the pressures from social media and the media like this are immense.
05:03We used to lock ourselves away in Oberstock and nobody knew what we were doing until the competition came along.
05:10And so to some degree we were in our own bubble but now you live your life constantly online.
05:18Lila and Lewis, how does it feel gliding in the skate tracks of Britain's Torval and Dean?
05:25I mean I think both of us just feel that it's such such an honour and you know like for me I started because of these guys after dancing on ice and I owe my whole skating career to be here for them.
05:41And for me it's just it feels amazing and honestly when people often in many interviews they'll say oh I'm sorry to bring this up again.
05:50But I love it every single time you know to be compared to Olympic gold medalists and household names still to this day in the UK is such a privilege and we both don't take it lightly at all.
06:02What will you be dancing at the Olympics and will you be doing it actually in Sheffield?
06:06Yes we'll be doing it all season we unveil it here today actually.
06:11For the rhythm dance we'll be doing Spice Girls and the songs are
06:15Wannabe, Viva Forever and Spice Up Your Life.
06:18And then for a free dance it'll be a Scottish medley so it'll be 500 miles by the Proclaimers, Auld Lang Syne and the Bonnie Banks of Loch Fulman.
06:27Christopher and Jane do you see qualities in Lila and Lewis that remind you of your own journey?
06:35You know what skating is progressing all the time and when you're at the top of your field at that time you feel that you're doing the best you can do.
06:44Where skating has gone to now and what they're doing is amazing.
06:50We're blown away by all the technical elements that you now have to achieve and also you know the artistic side of it putting those two together.
07:00So we're really proud of what they're doing and where they've got to now and you know it's so competitive that the slightest mistake the margins are so slender now aren't they between winning and not winning.
07:16And guys what's the best advice you've had from Torval and Dean so far?
07:20I think for us it's been the example that they've set for us so the creativity is a huge piece of what inspires us about you and the way that you were such trailblazers in your career.
07:32Always innovating, always exploring the grey areas which we really love to do as well to push the sport in whatever way we can.
07:39And the work ethic because I think the combination of those two things is incredibly powerful and you two are the epitome of that and it's something that we really strive towards in our own careers.
07:49Thank you, that's very generous of you.
07:51Jane and Christopher you won your Olympic gold medal built on Sheffield steel skating on John Wilson blades made right here in Sheffield.
08:01Sheffield, Lila and Lewis are you doing the same?
08:05Yeah we both wear those and I think have our entire career as well and I think most of the skating world too.
08:10It's really it's really cool just I've been to the factory and got to see how they put it all together and the design that goes into each blade as well.
08:18So John Wilson blades made here in the steel city really are trusted by Olympic and world champions.
08:24They are the blades to have are they?
08:26Absolutely yeah no Sheffield steel has carried us to a few gold medals.
08:31Sheffield secret weapon for winning Olympic gold.
08:34There you go.
08:35How important is it for the public to get behind Lila and Lewis, all our skaters and cheer them on?
08:41Does it make a big difference?
08:43Oh yeah absolutely, the audience when you feel the buzz of the audience and the anticipation of what you're about to do.
08:50It sort of fills you with the energy and the expectation of the performance in itself.
08:55That's what I think.
08:56I don't think it'll be a problem for them though.
08:57No.
08:58I think the audience will actually get behind them in a big way.
09:01But it's good if there's a big audience to get behind.
09:04The more the merrier.
09:05Yeah.
09:06You're our best skating hopes in decades, seven times British national champions, European medalists
09:12and recently won Britain's first world medal in over 40 years.
09:16The expectations are really high.
09:18Do you feel the pressure to come back with a medal from the Olympics?
09:23I think for us it's just very exciting because pressure means that we're in a situation where the stakes are high and we're pursuing something at a really high level.
09:31And that's what we dreamed of our whole lives.
09:33So to be in that position we try to reframe it as something to be grateful for and an opportunity to really seize.
09:39And I think that with the Olympic medal as a huge goal, that's something that keeps us working very, very hard every day with a clear vision and something we're going for full force.
09:49So you'd love to win and come back with an Olympic gold medal?
09:52I mean, I'm not going to say no to that. Sounds pretty nice to me.
09:55Jane and Chris, how special is it that the ISU European Figure Skating Championships are coming to you to Litter Arena in Sheffield?
10:04And why should Ice Dance fans buy a ticket? Why should people come?
10:09Well, I think everybody should buy a ticket to come and see all of the European Championships here in Sheffield because you're getting the creme de la creme of skating.
10:19Not very often you have that opportunity on your doorstep and also to be supporting Lila and Lewis as well and all our British competitors at the European Championships.
10:30It's going to be an exciting competition.
10:32And just finally, what message do you want to give to Ice Dance fans in your bid for European and Olympic lottery?
10:43Yeah, I would just say, similar to Chris actually, that anyone who just has a slight interest in the sport should just buy a ticket, come along and see it for yourself live.
10:53Because watching figure skating live is another level completely. The noise, the feel, the energy of it all.
10:59And yeah, we just encourage you so much to come along, cheer for everyone and see the best of Europe right before they go to the Olympics as well.
11:08I concur with that because on the tour that we've just finished, we had a lot of gentlemen that were dragged along to the show with their wives, begrudgingly.
11:19But we've met so many afterwards saying it was the best thing they've ever seen because there is something about viewing it live, seeing the energy, seeing the speed, feeling the rush of air as you pass.
11:32Yeah, it's a whole different experience.
11:34Well, thank you guys for your time. Jane and Chris, thanks for 50 years of amazing entertainment.
11:40And my little Louis, here's to the next 50 years.
11:43Thank you so much.
11:45What year are you on now together?
11:47This is our 10th year.
11:4910th year.
11:50We need a little anniversary dinner.
11:53Have a great day.
