Hamza Yassin has broken his silence on making it to the Strictly Come Dancing final after his tearful appearance during the latest, and last, results show of the series. The Wildlife cameraman couldn't hide his shock at being revealed as one of the dance contest's 2022 finalists alongside dance partner Jowita Przystal.
The pair will join Helen Skeleton and Gorka Marquez, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, and Fleur Eat and Vito Coppola, who survived the last dance-off of the 20th series on Monday night (December 12), in a dancing battle for the Glitterball trophy on Saturday night (December 17).
Hamza and Jowita were the second couple to be told they had made it through, reducing the CBBC star to tears while an excited Jowita jumped in the air before grabbing her dance partner for an embrace. It comes after the pair peformed two routines during Sunday night's semi-final.
Hamza and Jowita Przystal fought off close competition from singer and CBBC star Molly and her dance partner Carlos to top the Strictly leaderboard in the penultimate round of the dance competition. Hamza received 39, the joint highest score of the night, for his Scottish-themed Charleston to Pencil Full Of Lead by Paolo Nutini with Jowita.
However, his second performance, a waltz to What The World Needs Now by Burt Bacharach, failed to strike the same chord with Shirley, despite a total score of 37, who noticed mistakes she has "never seen him make". But viewers got behind him and he safely made it through to the last week in the hit dance competition.
After Hamza and Jowita were told that they had made it through to the final, the pair headed to chat to Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman alongside fellow finalists Molly and Carlos who were the first to find out they had made it through. As Claudia reflected on the pair's "absolutely incredible" journey, she asked Hamza: "What would you like to say to Jowita?"
Struggling to even speak, Hamza turned to Jowita and in a touching moment, the Animal Park star said: "Jowita, you have been my mast throughout this journey, showing me where to go, keeping me together. I've had such a wonderful time and I just can't thank you enough. I promise you, you are amazing. You're absolutely amazing."
As the tears started to flow, Claudia said: "You two are amazing together," before having to stop the chat as she too got teary-eyed. While neither Hamza or Jowita spoke out last night, the pair have taken to Instagram on Tuesday (December 13) as they prepare for the final, in which they'll perform three dances.
Sharing photos from their Scottish-inspired Charleston as well as a snap of the couple with the choreographers who helped put their routines together, Jowita said: "This is it… you did it partner! We did it! We are in the final of @bbcstrictly and I couldn’t be more proud of you @hamzayassin90."
She added: "Beyond thankful for all your votes and support now it’s time to go there and celebrate our journey x I had the best time, let’s make the most of it." Hamza, who self-admittedly isn't a big user of social media, did share Jowita's post to his own Instagram Story and sent a simple message.
"It's been a fantastic journey with you darling, one last week to go," he typed. And Hamza has been given a boost ahead of the grand final of Strictly 2022. The latest bookies odds following the results show have appeared to reveal that it's a two-horse race for this year's Glitterball Trophy.
According to Ladbrokes, Hamza is priced as the 1/2 favourite to go all the way, ahead of Helen Skelton (7/4). Elsewhere, Molly Rainford is 40/1 to go all the way, while Fleur East is the current rank outsider at 66/1. Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "Hamza has headed the betting for so long, we'd be amazed if he doesn't take home this year's Glitterball trophy."
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