Give Blood England and Wales

Jayne Torvill

Happy to be donating again

When a family member needed blood, gold medallist ice skater Jayne Torvill decided it was time to become a regular blood donor again

When did you become a blood donor and where did you start donating?: I started giving blood in the late seventies; the blood service came into my office where I was working, asking people to donate. I did it for a couple of years but then I started travelling with skating and gave up work so I didn't do it for a long while. I started giving blood again about five or six years ago. I donate at sessions in East Sussex.
Why did you start donating again?: I started again because a family member was very ill and needed blood. I started to think about how many other people are given blood. I think a lot of people don't donate until they know someone who needs it, and this can motivate them to become a regular donor. Just recently too, a friend of mine with cancer has needed a blood transfusion.

"I was amazed to find out that such a small number of people give blood; it really was quite a surprise"

Tell us about your involvement with National Blood Week in June this year.: It's the first time I have been involved in National Blood Week and the first time I have really spoken about giving blood. I was amazed to find out during the week that such a small number of people give blood; it really was quite a surprise. I was very happy to help and hopefully I can do more in the future.
ITV's Dancing on Ice has been a huge success. Are you currently working on the next series or are you involved with any other projects?: I've just started working on the next series and filming has started. I've also been busy promoting the Dancing on Ice Tour 2011 DVD which was released in November.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?: Winning the Olympics was a big highlight! The success of Dancing on Ice has also been fantastic - Christopher and I both had such long careers that there've been many happy times and highlights.
You must be busy with two children and a TV career. What is your favourite thing to do at the end of a busy day's filming?: My favourite thing to do the end of a busy day is relax with a nice glass of Chardonnay!

Born in 1957 in Clifton, Nottingham
Attended Clifton Hall Girls' Grammar School, later worked as an insurance clerk
Started ice skating at the age of eight and in 1971, aged just 14, became the British National Pairs Champion with partner Michael Hutchinson
1975 - paired up with Christopher Dean and they came fifth in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Dean gave up his job as a policeman and Torvill stopped work as an insurance clerk so they could skate together full-time
1980 - made an MBE
1984 - she and Christopher win Gold at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics and were watched by a British television audience of 24 million
2000 - Jayne is made an OBE
2007 - Jayne and Christopher star in ITV's popular Saturday evening show, Dancing on Ice, afterwards appearing in six further series.
Jayne lives in East Sussex with her husband and their two children, Kieran and Jessica.