Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton have lifted the Glitterball trophy, after being announced the winners of this year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The pair were announced as the successors to Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani in Saturday’s (17 December) tense live final, triumphing over celebrity contenders Danny Mac and Louise Redknapp.
After being announced as winner, an emotional Ore grabbed his partner in a big hug, before thanking her for getting him so far in the contest.
He said: “I love you with all my heart. I’m so speechless, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for everything that you’ve given me. You are the most incredible person, and this was the most incredible experience of my life.
“I’ve learned to dance, I’ve made a new best friend, I’ve been on the show that I have loved for twelve years… but Joanne, this is for you.”
She told him in response: “Thank you for working so hard, and you’ve become a dancer. You’re a dancer.”
The night ended with the two of them being carried off on the shoulders of their fellow contestants, accompanied by Lionel Richie’s ‘Dancing On The Ceiling’.
Ore and Joanne put on a stellar performance in the semi-final, in particular for their showdance, set to George Gershwin’s ‘I Got Rhythm’ which bagged them 40 points from the judges.
In addition to their showdance, they reprised their Jive from earlier in the series, as well as their American Smooth to ‘Singin’ In The Rain’, picked out especially by the judging panel.
The final also saw Len Goodman bidding an emotional farewell to the show, who has stepped down after 14 years as Head Judge.