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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Verity Sulway

Bill Bailey wins Strictly Come Dancing 2020 as show's oldest ever winner

Strictly Come Dancing has crowned Bill Bailey, 55, as its winner for the 2020 series, becoming the oldest winner ever on the show, while this marked Oti's second win in a row.

Bill and Oti Mabuse, HRVY and Janette Manrara, Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer, and Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez all battled it out in the final on Saturday night.

Bill was the firm favourite to win according to the bookies, though former contestants and the judges all agreed they simply could not call it.

Upon the announcement, Bill threw his hands in the air and said: "What? What? Oh my god!"

(BBC / Guy Levy)

He said: "It feels surreal, it feels extraordinary, it feels wonderful.

"I never thought that we would get this far, I never thought we would get to the final.

"But I have the most extraordinary teacher, the most extraordinary dancer, someone who believed in me right from the beginning.

"She found something in me and turned me into this, into a dancer, thank you Oti, I love you so much."

Oti, who also won the show last year with Kelvin Fletcher, said: "Bill, I think you are amazing, remarkable Bill Bailey, you just put your heart into everything.

"You let me into your world and I always want to be in your world and a part of you.

"Thank you for being a friend, a father figure to me, a brother, and for this!" she added.

Each pair danced three routines together throughout the night, judged by Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse.

But the winner was decided by public vote, and so it was all to play for.

HRVY had topped the leaderboard three times, which was more than anyone else, while Jamie survived the most dance offs in Strictly history, joint with singer Jamelia in 2015, with four.

The eliminated contestants from the series returned for a spectacular group number, with Nicola Adams, Clara Amfo, Ranvir Singh, Max George, Jason Bell, Jacqui Smith, JJ Chalmers, and Caroline Quentin taking to the stage for one last time.

Bill and Oti dances were - Favourite dance: Couple's Choice: Street/Commercial to Rapper's Delight, Showdance: The Show Must Go On, and Judges' Pick: Quickstep to Talk To The Animals.

Maisie and Gorka's dances were - Favourite dance: Quickstep to When You're Smiling, Showdance: We Need A Little Christmas, and Judges' Pick: Samba to Conga.

HRVY and Janette's dances were - Favourite dance: American Smooth to One from A Chorus Line, Showdance: Boogie Wonderland, and Judges' Pick: Jive to Faith.

Jamie and Karen's dances were - Favourite dance: Couple's Choice: Street/Commercial to Everybody Dance Now, Showdance: I'm Still Standing (Rocketman version) and Judges' Pick: Charleston to Zero To Hero from Hercules.

* The Strictly Come Dancing final is now available on BBC iPlayer

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