BILL Bailey and Oti Mabuse have been crowned the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2020.
After an incredible night of performances from HRVY, Maisie Smith and Jamie Laing, entertainer Bill won the public vote to take home the Giltterball trophy.
Announcing the result as the spectacular nine-week series came to an end, host Tess Daly said: “The moment we’ve all been waiting for… the Strictly champions of 2020 are Bill and Oti.”
Champion Bill said: “It feels surreal, extraordinary and wonderful.
“I never thought we would get this far. I never thought we’d get to the final.
“I’ve had the most extraordinary teacher and the most extraordinary dancer.
“Someone who has believed in me right from the beginning. She found something in me and turned me into this – into a dancer. Thank you Oti.”
Oti broke down in tears listening to Bill praise her as she picked up the trophy for the second year in a row.
She said: “I think you are amazing, remarkable Bill Bailey. You put your heart into everything and your soul into everything.
“You are in your world, but I love your world and always want to be a part of you.
“Thank you for being a friend and father figrure to me, a brother… and for THIS” as she pointed at the glitterball trophy.
Bill, HRVY and Maisie all finished top of the leaderboard with a total of 88 points from three dances.
They were followed by Jamie in last place, with 84 after failing to land a ten from judge Craig Revel Horwood.
Moments before the final kicked off, bookies were forced to slash HRVY’s odds – making him odds-on favourite to win.
Mybettingsites.co.uk saw Jamie Laing as the obvious outsider at 40/1, with HRVY at 4/9, Bill Bailey following behind at 6/5 and Maisie Smith priced at 7/1.
It was HRVY’s dance partner Jannette’s first time in the final in eight years of doing Strictly.
She said earlier today: “Can you believe it team?!? 8 years later and my @hrvy and I have done It!”
Earlier in the night, Maisie broke down in tears as she told how she’s transformed from a “shy, nervous teen” into a “confident woman”.
The EastEnders star, 19, was showered with praise for her incredible Showdance to We Need a Little Christmas by Idina Menzel.
While she scored three tens for the dance, it was the messages from her mum and on-screen sister Shona McGarty that left her in floods of tears.
Claudia Winkleman told her: “You know what I love, your mum on It Takes Two, so beautiful, she said when you first started this competition you were a nervous teenager and she’s seen you transform into a confident woman.
“Watching you do that, it’s a different Maisie.”
Maisie replied: “My mum knows me inside out and she knows that I can be very shy, and very nervous, and this experience has been short but I’ve learnt a lot about myself.
“Feel like I’ve grown. And it just means the world that she’s noticed.”
Meanwhile Jamie was praised as a “role model” by judge Motsi Mabuse after making it to the final despite ending up in the bottom two four times throughout the series.
“I just love that you are such a role model,” said Motsi.
“You have fight back energy. It is inspiring. You come out here and attack the dance.
“You were happy and celebrating, such a role model.”
