Kirkby ice-skating star lands role in ITV's Torvill and Dean film

A Kirkby schoolgirl is set to light up television screens this Christmas, starring as the young Jane Torvill in a drama about the early life of the ice-skating star.
Danielle, who is in year five at Annesley Primary School has been figure skating for four years.Danielle, who is in year five at Annesley Primary School has been figure skating for four years.
Danielle, who is in year five at Annesley Primary School has been figure skating for four years.

Ten year old Danielle Hadfield-Easton will star alongside Hucknall youngster Mason Hart in a two-hour ITV drama about the lives of the famous figure skating duo.

Danielle, who is in year five at Annesley Primary School has been figure skating for four years.

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Danielle trains at Nottingham's National Ice Centre, sometimes getting up at 4.30am to train before school.

Ten year old Danielle Hadfield-Easton will star alongside Hucknall youngsterMason Hartin a two-hour ITV drama about the lives of the famous figure skating duo.Ten year old Danielle Hadfield-Easton will star alongside Hucknall youngsterMason Hartin a two-hour ITV drama about the lives of the famous figure skating duo.
Ten year old Danielle Hadfield-Easton will star alongside Hucknall youngsterMason Hartin a two-hour ITV drama about the lives of the famous figure skating duo.

Mum Helen said: "We are so proud of Danielle."

Danielle spent four weeks over the summer holidays filming in Belfast with her dad Andy as a chaperone.

Danielle said she is excited to see herself on TV.

She said: "I felt excited and couldn't stop smiling when I got the role.

"I always watch Dancing on Ice when it's on, and it's going to be strange watching myself.

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"My friends at school are happy for me, and all the cast were really nice.

"I'll be watching it with all my family on Christmas Day!"

Danielle now wants to carry on figure skating, and hopes to be an actor when she is older.

She added: "I want to do more movies, and I have my own Youtube channel where I talk about skating."

Annesley Primary School staff will also be watching on Christmas Day.

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Lucy Wraith, assistant head said: "We are super exited, we can't wait to see Danielle on our screens.

"We can't believe how talented she is, we've really watched her confidence grow since she started skating.

"It's great that the show has cast a skater from the East Midlands, and it really shows what's to come in Danielle's future."

'Torvill and Dean” explores how Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean met as teenagers in Nottingham in the 1970s and ends with them winning Olympic Gold with Bolero in 1984.

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Game of Thrones actor Will Tudor Ackley Bridge actress Poppy Lee Friar will star.

Nottingham-based writer William Ivory said: “Chris and Jayne are such fascinating characters: sports people and athletes with all the grit and determination that entails, but real artists, too, engaging in deeply felt creative and emotional battles.”

The two hour drama will air on Christmas Day at 9.15pm

The cast also includes ex EastEnders star Anita Dobson as Miss Perry, Jayne’s first coach at the Nottingham Ice stadium, with Wild at Heart’s Stephen Tompkinson as Jayne’s father, George, and Access All Areas actress Jo Hartley as Jayne’s mum, Betty.

Also in Torvill and Dean are Dean Andrews and Christine Bottomley as Chris’s parents, Colin and Mavis, and Jaime Winstone as the dancing instructor who pairs the skaters together for the first time.