GoT actor cast as lead in ITV's Torvill and Dean biopic
ITV's Torvill and Dean biopic has confirmed its cast with Game of Thrones' Will Tudor in one of the starring roles.
The single film narrates Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean's early years, and the drive and creativity that took them to Winter Olympics glory and global fame in 1984.
(Will played Olyvar, Littlefinger's brothel manager/Loras Tyrell's boyfriend and eventual downfall on the show – you know the one?)
Written by William Ivory (Made in Dagenham, Burton and Taylor, Common as Muck), the Torvill and Dean drama stars Will (who's also appeared in Humans, Shadowhunters and Mr Selfridge, by the way) as Christopher Dean.
Poppy Lee Friar, who's appeared in Ackley Bridge, Eve and In the Club, will play Jayne Torvill.
They'll be joined by former EastEnders star Anita Dobson in the role of Miss Perry, Jayne's first coach at the Nottingham Ice Stadium. And DCI Banks and Trollied's Stephen Tompkinson will play Jayne's father George, with Jo Hartley from This Is England '90 as her mum Betty.
Meanwhile, Chris's dad Colin will be played by Ashes to Ashes and The Moorside's Dean Andrews, with Christine Bottomley as the skater's mum Mavis. Susan Earl (whose credits include So Awkward, I Want My Wife Back and Reggie Perrin) will play Betty Dean.
And Babs star Jaime Winstone will play Janet Sawbridge, the ice dancing instructor who pairs Chris and Jayne together for the first time.
The Dancing on Ice coaches and sporting superstars have been interviewed at length by William Ivory for the drama, and showed their support following the casting announcement.
"We feel very honoured that ITV have commissioned this film based on what was a very significant period in each of our lives," said Jayne and Chris.
"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."
The drama will start filming later this month.
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