Strictly Christmas special winner announced as soap star crowned 2023 champion
EastEnders legend Jamie Borthwick was crowned the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special winner on Monday.
The actor, 29, who has played Jay Brown on the BBC One soap since 2006, took home the glistening Strictly Silver Star trophy with pro partner Nancy Xu after impressing with their quickstep. Jamie and Nancy, 32, went up against Sally Nugent and Graziano Di Prima, Dan Snow and Nadiya Bychkova, Danny Cipriani and Jowita Przystał, Tillie Amartey and Neil Jones, and Keisha Buchanan and Gorka Márquez.
The six celebrities were judged by Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on the festive special, which was hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The Christmas special started with a sensational group routine to a festive medley of It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, featuring the celebrities and their professional partners.
EastEnders legend Jamie Borthwick was crowned the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special winner (BBC/Guy Levy)
The actor, 29, has played Jay Brown on the BBC One soap since 2006 (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)It was then time for each couple to take to the dance floor to perform their individual seasonal routines. After performing their quickstep to Merry Christmas Everyone, Anton said of Jamie's performance: "You were a surprise and a delight. Magnificent!", Craig said: "Jamie you sleighed me darling, you were Fab-U-Lous!", Motsi said: "The surprise of the evening and a perfect end" while Shirley added: "If I could jump over this bar and quickstep around the room I would do it with you! I don’t have a paddle high enough for you."
Once all couples had danced, the studio audience voted for their favourite and their votes were combined with the judges' scores to decide the winner. Tess and Claudia announced Jamie and Nancy as the Christmas champions before presenting them with the sought-after Strictly Silver Star trophy. Jamie said: "This is great, it’s been a wonderful experience, but we’re all winners here. This show is magic."
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The final sprinkling of glitter was a special musical performance from pop sensation Sam Ryder, he performed his new single You’re Christmas To Me, accompanied by professional dancers Giovanni Pernice, Lauren Oakley, Kai Widdrington and Luba Mushtuk. To close the show in true Strictly style, the couples and judges all graced the ballroom once more for a Christmas cracker of a performance to What Christmas Means to Me.
It comes as fellow soap star, Ellie Leach, became the youngest winner of Strictly Come Dancing earlier this month with her professional dance partner Vito Coppola. The former Coronation Street star, 22, had a sweet message for Vito, 31, following their win, saying: "This is for you!"
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