Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean

'Dancing on Ice' might return without Torvill and Dean.

ITV producers are hoping to keep the ice-skating competition going by bringing in new mentors to coach future celebrity contestants, in spite of TV boss Peter Fincham claiming the show couldn't go on without the Olympic duo once they hang up their skates in 2014.

An insider told The Sun newspaper: "The show is still massive for ITV. But when Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean decided to go, it gave Peter Fincham a reason to get rid of it.

"Yet many at ITV Studios think that was the wrong decision. Jayne and Christopher leaving is a big deal and it will be incredibly hard to replace them -- but not impossible.

"To say that they are the only telegenic skating pros who could fill the role would be wrong. So watch this space."

While 'Dancing on Ice' is a firm family favourite, with seven million tuning in on Sundays to watch their favourite celebrities try out tricks on the ice, it is one of ITV's most expensive shows.

Each episode costs £1million to make and last year producers pulled out all the stops by paying £250,000 to hire busty babe Pamela Anderson - only for her to be voted off after just one performance.

The source added: "It's fine to bin a show if it is pulling in only a couple of million viewers in prime time. But the world is not awash with shows that rate like Dancing On Ice does."

Torvill and Dean announced last month the show would be ending next year and they wanted the programme to "go out on a high".

Tagged in