In pictures: The 2013 Strictly final
- Published
BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid was the first to dance in the Judges' Choice round, with partner 'Kevin from Grimsby' (also known as Kevin Clifton). The judges chose the quickstep for them, which they danced to Good Morning. Culminating in a brave stunt walking over a sofa, judge Len Goodman said: "It was light and it was bright".
Judges said Abbey Clancy had improved the most during the series and transformed herself into "the most beautiful dancer". They chose the waltz for her to dance to with partner Aljaz Skorjanec, to Kissing You by Des'ree. "That dance should be declared an area of outstanding beauty," said Len Goodman, before the judges awarded her a perfect 40.
The judges chose the Viennese waltz to My Favourite Things by Julie Andrews for Sophie Ellis-Bextor and partner Brendan Cole's first turn on the dancefloor. Bruno Tonioli said: "Cecil Beaton would be proud." However Craig Revel Horwood thought Sophie's posture let her down "ever so slightly".
Former Coronation Street star Natalie Gumede got off to a flying start with partner Artem Chigvintsev. Len Goodman branded them "the Lancashire hotpot and the beef from the east" after they danced their Judges' Choice: the cha cha to Boney M's Rasputin. Bruno Tonioli added: "Hips, hips hooray".
For the evening's Showdance round, Susanna Reid and Kevin Clifton danced to Your Song by Ewan MacGregor. Craig Revel Horwood called it "classy, stylish and airborne", while Bruno Tonioli joked that Kevin Clifton's neck must be made "of reinforced steel".
Bruno Tonioli called for the fire brigade, "because I'm burning!", as Abbey Clancy and partner Aljaz Skorjanec finished their rock and roll Showdance to Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses. Craig Revel Horwood loved the "drama" but Len Goodman was not impressed by a section featuring a smoke machine, calling it "surplus to requirements".
Natalie Gumede and Artem Chigvintsev's Showdance, performed to Steppin' Out with My Baby by Christina Aguilera and Tony Bennett, featured tap-dancing and pole-dancing. It was "eye-popping, jaw-dropping, show-stopping," according to Len Goodman, while Craig Revel Horwood simply called it "the showdance to end all showdances".
Judge Darcey Bussell called Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Brendan Cole's Showdance, to Whitney Houston hit I Wanna Dance with Somebody, "fabulous disco fun". Len Goodman added: "You were giving that everything." But sadly it was their last dance as the couple were eliminated before they had the chance to perform their much-loved Charleston.
In the second half of the show, the third and final dance was the Couples' Favourite. Susanna Reid picked the paso doble to Carmen's Los Toreadors, which was "powerful, gutsy" and "triumphant" according to Bruno Tonioli. "You were dancing for your life and we just lived it," he added. It was also a hit with Len Goodman, who said: "If I'm dreaming, don't wake me up."
Darcey Bussell told Abbey Clancy she "floated" in the Couple's Favourite round, as she danced the quickstep to Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves with partner Aljaz Skorjanec. Referencing Clancey's footballer husband Peter Crouch, Len Goodman told her: "If ballroom dancing was football, you're top of the league."
Natalie Gumede and partner Artem Chigvintsev were the final couple to take the floor and chose the American Smooth to Jennifer Hudson's And I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going for their favourite. "I bow down to both of you," said Craig Revel Horwood. She got four 10s from the judges, giving her a perfect 40.
As a whopping six million votes were counted, the rest of this year's Strictly contestants got in on the action with this group routine, complete with confetti and a flying carpet.
This year's Strictly Come Dancing winners Abbey Clancy and partner Alijaz Skorjanec lift their glitterball trophy. Clancy said she would keep it "on the mantelpiece, so everyone can see it." She said she was "gobsmacked" to win, but added that the show was "magnificent" and had given her "a new lease of life".