For the first time ever ITV1 will screen a Christmas special of its hit series Dancing on Ice. In this unique one-off show, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will be pitted against each other, as they train two teams of Dancing on Ice stars.

Dancing on Ice at Christmas will also feature live music performances from some very special guests as well as Christmas themed dances from Torvill and Dean and a team of skating professionals.

Team Torvill – Clare Buckfield, Suzanne Shaw, and Zaraah Abraams and their skating partners – will compete against Team Dean – Chris Fountain, Duncan James and Kyran Bracken plus their professional counterparts.

Judges Robin Cousins, Ruthie Henshall, Jason Gardiner, Nicky Slater and Karen Barber, along with the studio audience, will decide which team will be crowned Christmas Champions 2008.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby will present the 90 minute special.

Jayne Torvill said: “Having worked so closely with Chris all these years it will be really interesting to see how competitive we become when we are training opposing teams.”

Christopher Dean added: “It will be great to be reunited with former Dancing on Ice stars and this will be a first for me and Jayne – we are used to competing but not against each other.”

Layla Smith, ITV’s controller of alternative programmes, said: “I can’t think of a more perfect show to be part of our Christmas schedule. Dancing on Ice captivates the magic of Christmas and Team Torvill versus Team Dean is an exciting new twist to an already successful format.”