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| Stars battle for Strictly crown | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Strictly Come Dancing finalists Chris Hollins and Ricky Whittle are battling it out to be king of the ballroom. | |
| The show began with Hollyoaks actor Whittle and his partner Natalie Lowe gaining a full set of top marks from the five judges for their quickstep. | |
| Judge Darcey Bussell said they had "set the standard" for the grand final. | |
| Bookmakers have made Whittle the favourite to win, with odds of 4/6, compared to BBC Sports presenter Hollins, on 11/10. | |
| Hollins and his dance partner Ola Jordan performed a foxtrot which scored them four nines and a 10. | |
| The results show is due to start at 2040 GMT. | |
| Through the series, Hollins has been more popular with the public than with the judges. | Through the series, Hollins has been more popular with the public than with the judges. |
| 'Different flavours' | 'Different flavours' |
| Asked whether he deserved to win, the presenter said he was trying not to think of the show as a competition. | Asked whether he deserved to win, the presenter said he was trying not to think of the show as a competition. |
| "I've seen it as us having lots of fun, trying to make sure I don't make myself look like a complete wally and put in a performance we both enjoy. | "I've seen it as us having lots of fun, trying to make sure I don't make myself look like a complete wally and put in a performance we both enjoy. |
| "Every dance we thought would be our last. | "Every dance we thought would be our last. |
| The judges often remarked on Hollins's facial expressions during his dances | The judges often remarked on Hollins's facial expressions during his dances |
| "There is no doubting that Ricky is in a class of his own," he continued. | "There is no doubting that Ricky is in a class of his own," he continued. |
| "If you speak to any of the professionals they say he's probably the best male celebrity they've ever had - but it is a dance competition and it's also a TV programme." | "If you speak to any of the professionals they say he's probably the best male celebrity they've ever had - but it is a dance competition and it's also a TV programme." |
| Ola Jordan, Hollins's dance partner added: "If people enjoy watching and voting for us we're doing something right - maybe it's not the perfect technique, but Chris has definitely been improving and putting in loads of hard work." | Ola Jordan, Hollins's dance partner added: "If people enjoy watching and voting for us we're doing something right - maybe it's not the perfect technique, but Chris has definitely been improving and putting in loads of hard work." |
| Speaking in defence of his rival, Whittle said: "Me and Chris are bringing different flavours to the table. | Speaking in defence of his rival, Whittle said: "Me and Chris are bringing different flavours to the table. |
| "I think it's quite insulting for Chris that people are saying that he can't dance - he wouldn't be here if he couldn't. | "I think it's quite insulting for Chris that people are saying that he can't dance - he wouldn't be here if he couldn't. |
| "Chris can dance, he can entertain, he's got great moves, he's got great personality and he's going to be a massive challenge. | "Chris can dance, he can entertain, he's got great moves, he's got great personality and he's going to be a massive challenge. |
| "If I don't bring my 'A' game and perform four great dances he's walking away with this," he said. | "If I don't bring my 'A' game and perform four great dances he's walking away with this," he said. |
| Whittle added that both finalists should be "very proud" of their achievements, considering they have both had to juggle full-time jobs while competing. | Whittle added that both finalists should be "very proud" of their achievements, considering they have both had to juggle full-time jobs while competing. |
| Biggest fears | Biggest fears |
| The actor has spent most of his time training in Liverpool with his dance partner, Natalie Lowe, due to his Hollyoaks filming commitments. | The actor has spent most of his time training in Liverpool with his dance partner, Natalie Lowe, due to his Hollyoaks filming commitments. |
| He revealed that the pair would be performing two dances chosen by their fans in the final show - the quickstep and the cha cha cha. | He revealed that the pair would be performing two dances chosen by their fans in the final show - the quickstep and the cha cha cha. |
| Whittle and Lowe received a standing ovation for their Argentine Tango | Whittle and Lowe received a standing ovation for their Argentine Tango |
| "It's 100% public vote so there's not point doing a dance we enjoyed that the public didn't connect with," he explained. | "It's 100% public vote so there's not point doing a dance we enjoyed that the public didn't connect with," he explained. |
| He also said he hoped the "Superman pants" he had been wearing during training would continue being his good luck charm, quipping: "I hope there's no kryptonite out there on the night!" | He also said he hoped the "Superman pants" he had been wearing during training would continue being his good luck charm, quipping: "I hope there's no kryptonite out there on the night!" |
| Lowe, who appeared on five series of the show in her native Australia, added: "I've taken the title home in Australia and this is my new goal that I've set for myself: I want to go all they way." | Lowe, who appeared on five series of the show in her native Australia, added: "I've taken the title home in Australia and this is my new goal that I've set for myself: I want to go all they way." |
| Meanwhile Hollins said his biggest fears for the final were forgetting his dance steps and freezing on the live show. | Meanwhile Hollins said his biggest fears for the final were forgetting his dance steps and freezing on the live show. |
| "I just don't want to be humiliated," he said. | "I just don't want to be humiliated," he said. |
| "I've got to concentrate on what I'm doing so that people say, 'yes, he deserved his place in the final'. That's all I care about. | "I've got to concentrate on what I'm doing so that people say, 'yes, he deserved his place in the final'. That's all I care about. |
| "But I think on the night, with a bit of adrenaline pumping, we're just going to go for it." | "But I think on the night, with a bit of adrenaline pumping, we're just going to go for it." |
| The finale to the series will also see host Bruce Forsyth will team up with judge Alesha Dixon to perform a duet of the Frank Sinatra standard Something's Gotta Give. | The finale to the series will also see host Bruce Forsyth will team up with judge Alesha Dixon to perform a duet of the Frank Sinatra standard Something's Gotta Give. |