Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse have been crowned the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2019.
The soap star lifted the Glitterball trophy after wowing the judges with three stellar performances, including a reprisal of the Samba from their very first week.
Kelvin’s victory came as a fitting end to his time on the show after he was drafted in as a last minute addition to the lineup, after the Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing was forced to pull out with a foot injury.
Amazing: Strictly Come Dancing kicked off its 2019 final in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, as Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden opened the show with the first perfect score of the night
Speaking to hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman following their victory, Kelvin admitted he was lost for words, but added: ‘I didn’t expect that it’s such a privilege to be here. [This show] represents everything that is amazing with his country it’s been an absolute privilege.’
Oti – who also burst into tears after learning she had won – was equally stunned by the victory, saying: ‘I’ve been on this show for five years and I have never ever met any celebrity who gives his heart, his everything, his soul. If something’s not working, we stay in training and sort it.
‘And not because we want to win but because he genuinely genuinely loves dancing. This is the best gift and the best ending to my year.’
Kelvin’s win came despite finishing in second place on the leaderboard behind Karim, as only his Showdance earned a perfect score of 40 points.
Victorious! The soap star lifted the Glitterball trophy after wowing the judges with three stellar performances, and earned the most public votes despite finishing in second place on the leaderboard
Winners! After lifting the coveted the trophy, Oti and Kelvin were heaved into the air by their Strictly co-stars after the actor admitted he was ‘lost for words’ to be crowned the winner
Here they are! Kelvin and Oti cemented their status as Strictly champions when they opted to reprise their Samba from Week One, which raised the roof and immediately tipped the duo as frontrunners to win the show
Champions! Oti – who was moved to tears by the victory – thanked Kelvin for giving her ‘the best gift’ as she was finally crowned the champion after five years on the show
The soap star joined the show as a last minute addition in September after Made In Chelsea star Jamie was forced to pull out with a foot injury.
Jamie – who did appear in the audience to cheer on Kelvin and Oti during the first live show – dropped out after injuring his foot during rehearsals for the launch show.
In an emotional statement to fans, he said: ‘Hello everyone, I just wanted to give a quick update because it’s been released now. Because of my injury, I won’t be competing on Strictly this year, which is incredibly devastating and really upsetting.
‘But these things happen in life, and when they happen, you have to push forward and be positive.’
After the Strictly launch showed aired in September, bosses confirmed that Kelvin had been drafted into replace Jamie, and that he would be dancing with Oti.
Final three: Kelvin and Oti beat out Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden (far left) and Emma Barton and Anton Du Beke (centre) to be crowned the Strictly champions
Honoured: Kelvin also described being on the show as an ‘absolute privilege,’ and praised Strictly for representing everything that is ‘amazing about this country’
Such a shame: Kelvin was drafted into Strictly as a last minute addition after Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing was forced to drop out of the show with a foot injury
As ever the finale was a close race for the glitterball trophy, as Kelvin went head-to-head with Karim and Emma Barton to be crowned the series champions.
As the show started, Karim and Amy were up first and for their Judges Choice the duo were asked to perform their Quickstep to Mr. Pinstripe Suit by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
After scoring 39 points the first time around, the duo were aiming for a perfect score, and once again they impressed with the fast-paced routine.
Shirley praised: ‘Well first of all, what can I say? What a way to open our show and to celebrate our final, you definitely had the eye of the tiger this evening, no gapping, beautiful frame, great head position, very impressive.’
Motsi added: ‘I feel like the first time we saw this dance, it was great but this time you’ve actually matured, you’ve had time to show what you can do, you were at ease but it was electrifying.’
Exciting: In a tense finale, Karim and Amy were the first to take to the dancefloor, as each couple performed three dances in a bid to win the coveted Glitterball trophy
Stunned: Karim and Amy were left speechless to received a perfect score at the start of the night, putting them in strong contention with two more dances to go
Emma and Anton were up next with their Judges Choice, which was a reprisal of their Charleston from the music Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Matching their previous score with 39 points, the pair were praised for the routine which could have been plucked from the West End stage, and Bruno even declared that he would love to Charleston with her.
Shirley added: ‘I applaud you, last Lady standing you did not disappoint, your confidence was off the charts it’s the most enjoyable Charleston I’ve ever watched and Anton you looked fabulous.’
Craig added: ‘There was a sync issue, but that routine would be right at home in the West End it was absolutely fantastic.’
Dancing Queen: Matching their previous score with 39 points, the pair were praised for the routine which could have been plucked from the West End stage, and Bruno even declared that he would love to Charleston with her
After sparking fan hysteria with their last performance, Kelvin and Oti were tasked with reprising their steamy rumba to Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers.
Once again the entire panel admitted that they were left hot under the collar by the dance, and they came perilously close to 40 yet again with a score of 39 points.
Craig said: ‘Well I have to admit, I am rather hot under the collar darling, watchable, believable, but above all masculine I thought it was absolutely tremendous.’
Bruno agreed: ‘I think we’re reaching melting point, what you did so well it was sensual and romantic the chemistry was absolutely sizzling, but what you did tonight that was so good, you managed to go from sculptural to fluid, instead of dancing through it all the time you went…’ before delivering his own flourish.
Sensual: After sparking fan hysteria with their last performance, Kelvin and Oti were tasked with reprising their steamy rumba to Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers
Sizzling: Once again the entire panel admitted that they were left hot under the collar by the dance, and they came perilously close to 40 yet again with a score of 39 points
Following their judges choice, each couple took to the floor to perform their Showdance, which ripped up the rulebook and could include all manner of dance elements, lifts and choreography.
Up first were Karim and Amy who performed a contemporary inspired routine to A Million Dreams by Pink which reflected on their incredible journey in the competition.
The dance left both stars – along with most of the judging panel – on the brink of tears, with Shirley particularly praising Amy for making it to the final for the first time.
Motsi said: ‘I feel like that showcased more than your talent that was the perfect dance for you, all the talent that you bring, I felt that to the core of my heart thank you for making my little dancing heart happy.’
Bruno added: ‘It really looked and felt like a dream and you danced like an angel, it’s so good to see a young man so honest so truthful you give everything you have to everything you do, never loose that it will serve you well.’
Incredible: Up next each couple performed a no holds-barred Showdance, with Karim and Amy dancing a contemporary-inspired routine to A Million Dreams by Pink
Emotional: The dance left both stars – along with most of the judging panel – on the brink of tears, with Shirley particularly praising Amy for making it to the final for the first time
Emma and Anton decided to go classic Hollywood for their routine, with a routine that could have been plucked from a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film to Let Yourself Go by Irving Berlin, that scored them 38 points out of 40.
Craig said: ‘There was a slight hesitation at the beginning as you came down, but that being said I love that set and what I did love about the dance it was flashy all out full on Hollywood loved the style loved the dance.’
Motsi agreed: ‘I think its obvious we are in the final and maybe a bit of the nerves were in there, you do not need to worry about abs anything that was classy that was like a timepiece from old school dancing.’
Showbusiness! Emma and Anton decided to go classic Hollywood for their routine, with a dance that could have been plucked from a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film to Let Yourself Go by Irving Berlin, that scored them 38 points out of 40
It was Kelvin and Oti who earned the loudest reception of the evening when they took to the floor with a jaw-dropping Showdance that featured a medley of their biggest and best dance moments.
Clad in fuchsia pink outfits, they raised the roof with the dance to Shout by The Isley Brothers, which even included some Argentine Tango, which was a dance they never got the chance to perform.
Shirley praised: ‘You pushed the limits you have everything in the routine we could see your technique but you pushed the limits, it had everything, good music good, you name it, it had it.’
Bruno added: ‘Rocked, shaken, stirred exhilarated that really was such a tour de force it was almost like watching 13 weeks of all the best of Strictly Come Dancing condensed into one dance, we often ask we need more content, content, you can’t ask for anything more?’
Rousing: It was Kelvin and Oti who earned the loudest reception of the evening when they took to the floor with a jaw-dropping Showdance that featured a medley of their biggest and best dance moments
That’s a Showdance! Clad in fuchsia pink outfits, they raised the roof with the dance to Shout by The Isley Brothers, which even included some Argentine Tango, which was a dance they never got the chance to perform
Following their Showdance, the final three couples received one last chance to perform together by taking to the ballroom with their favourite dance of the series.
After it scored the first 40 of the series, Karim and Amy opted to reprise their jive to You Can’t Stop The Beat from Hairspray and once again they earned tens across the board.
Shirley praised: ‘I’m not going to talk about your dancing, but I tell you I will leave after this final being totally inspired by you.
‘You give so much to the young generation that’s watching this show you have brought us joy, you brought us hard work and even when you scored low you came back and were a true gentleman.’
Bruno: ‘Well this absolutely proves that I am always right, actually the thing is it is the best jive ever, I could hear all the professional boys going absolutely mad for a reason because what you did is as good as anything they could deliver trust me!’
One last hurrah: For their final performance, each couple opted to perform their favourite dance of the series, which for Karim and Amy was a Jive to You Can’t Stop The Beat from Hairspray
United: Karim also took a moment to reflect on his incredible Strictly experience, as he emotionally told Amy: ‘You’re the one who kept me strong you see something in me no one else sees, thank you’
Karim also took a moment to reflect on his incredible Strictly experience, as he emotionally told Amy: ‘I wanna sat thank you so much through the ups, the downs, being the bottom two you’re the one who kept me strong you see something in me no one else sees, thank you.’
Reigning champion Stacey Dooley took to Instagram Stories on Saturday to cheer on the remaining three couples, as she threw her support behind Karim and Amy.
The star is now dating her professional partner Kevin, who was eliminated from this year’s Strictly in Week Two alongside presenter Anneka Rice.
Posting a video from backstage at her latest TV project, Stacey said: ‘Very very good luck to the finalists of Strictly, I will be cheering you all on. Enjoy it, just soak it up. I can’t believe it’s been a year!’
Blowing a kiss to the camera Stacey clearly shared her support for pro Amy, as she said: ‘Also… go on Amy,’ while tagging the Welsh pro.
It has been another eventful series of Strictly that was fraught with chaos, as Paralympic star Will Bayley was also forced to drop out of the show in Week Seven after he suffered a horrific knee injury in rehearsals which reportedly left the star screaming in agony.
Painful: In Week 7 Paralympic star Will Bayley was also forced to drop out of the show after he suffered a horrific knee injury in rehearsals which reportedly left the star screaming in agony
Elsewhere James Cracknell was the first celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly alongside pro Luba Musktuk, and following his exit the star was forced hit back at claims he had to be ‘calmed down backstage.’
He wrote: ‘I don’t reply to people’s comments but I’m not gonna let this one go. @LubaMushtuk & I had fun & our best dance but it wasn’t enough. I know I’m no John Travolta so to throw my toys out the pram would be stupid.’
An insider told The Sun: ‘He was saying things like, ”It was a massive mistake to do Strictly. I’ve been made to look completely stupid”.’
The source claimed athlete James was competitive and the vote was ‘like his first career failure. He was very angry backstage and had to be calmed down.’ However, A BBC spokesman has since told MailOnline: ‘This is categorically untrue.’
