Christopher Dean dating co-star

Christopher Dean is dating his 'Dancing On Ice' co-star Karen Barber.

Karen, a mentor on the ITV show, separated from skating coach Stephen Pickavance - with whom she has two daughters, Emma, 17, and Laura, 19 - earlier this month, ending their 21 year marriage.

She is now seeing Christopher, 52, a former Olympic gold medallist and star of 'Dancing On Ice', although friends insist their relationship is not serious.

A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Karen has just come out of a long marriage. She is very fond of Chris and they are great friends, but she still regards herself as a single woman.

"Karen and Stephen had been together since they were in their early 20s but over time their relationship became more like that of brother and sister."

The new couple have also issued a joint statement confirming they are in a relationship, after they were pictured kissing outside a restaurant yesterday (15.01.11).

It says: "We have been great friends for more than 30 years.

"Following recent media speculation, we feel the necessity to confirm that this year has seen a change in our relationship, but we are taking things very slowly, as it is early days.

"We'd very much like to thank our dear friends, who have been so incredibly supportive to us.

"We both have families with children, so we ask the media to please respect their privacy."

Christopher - half of dancing duo Torvill and Dean, who won a gold medal at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics - split from his second wife, American figure skater Jill Trenary, last year, with her complaining the show kept her husband in the UK for up to six months of the year. The couple have two sons together, Jack, 13, and Sam, 11.

'Dancing On Ice' continues tonight (16.01.11).