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Stars battle for Strictly crown | Stars battle for Strictly crown |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Strictly Come Dancing finalists Chris Hollins and Ricky Whittle are battling it out to be king of the ballroom. | Strictly Come Dancing finalists Chris Hollins and Ricky Whittle are battling it out to be king of the ballroom. |
The final began with Hollyoaks actor Whittle and his partner Natalie Lowe gaining a full set of top marks from the five judges for their quickstep. | The final 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. | Judge Darcey Bussell said they had "set the standard" for the grand final. |
At the end of the first of the evening's two shows, Whittle led the judges' leaderboard with 93 points to BBC sports presenter Hollins' 90. | |
The winner will be decided by audience votes. | |
Bookmakers have made Whittle the favourite to win, with odds of 4/6, compared to Hollins on 11/10. | |
Hollins and his dance partner Ola Jordan began with a foxtrot which scored them four nines and a 10 - their first in the competition. | |
Judge Bruno Tonioli told Jordan: "You've turned a frog into a prince." | |
The first show of the evening featured the return of the athlete Jade Johnson, who had to withdraw last month due to a ligament injury during dance training. | The first show of the evening featured the return of the athlete Jade Johnson, who had to withdraw last month due to a ligament injury during dance training. |
The Great Britain long jumper performed a tango with dance partner Ian Waite. | The Great Britain long jumper performed a tango with dance partner Ian Waite. |
Other previous contestants also had a turn on the dance floor, with the exception of Phil Tufnell who has flu. | Other previous contestants also had a turn on the dance floor, with the exception of Phil Tufnell who has flu. |
Bruce Forsyth teamed up with judge Alesha Dixon to perform a duet of the Frank Sinatra standard Something's Gotta Give. | Bruce Forsyth teamed up with judge Alesha Dixon to perform a duet of the Frank Sinatra standard Something's Gotta Give. |
Hollins and Jordan began the results show with a Charleston which scored them a full set of 10s. | |
Judge Craig Revel Horwood told Hollins: "Your mouth being open so wide really did suit that whole thing." | |
Bussell said: "You transported me to the golden era of the movies." | |
Whittle and Lowe returned with a cha cha cha which Alesha Dixon called "one of the best dances I've ever seen on Strictly". | |
Bussell added: "I wouldn't mind doing a cha cha with you one day, Ricky." | |
Both couples produced energetic final showdances. Hollins ended his dance standing on the judges' table. Whittle pulled off a series of lifts that impressed the judges. | |
The scores from the judges after the final dance gave Whittle and Lowe 190 points and Hollins and Jordan 186 - but these do not affect the final result. | |