Strictly winner Ore Oduba returns to old job at BBC Breakfast during £500k battle to keep him from ITV and praises Carol Kirkwood for being his ‘inspiration’ to do the show
The sports presenter was blindsided with a segment to host as Sally Nugent handed back the reigns
ORE Oduba may have just become the Strictly Come Dancing champion last weekend - but his fellow BBC Breakfast presenters weren't going to let him get to his head.
No sooner had sat down on the sofa to discuss his win, Sally Nugent decided to step back from her role.
She announced: "There's one more sports story still to go - but I think, on this very special morning, I'm actually just going to take a little break, because we got someone special here!"
Cheering on their returning friend, Ore looked dumbfounded as he was told he was being put back to work and will present the last story.
Still clutching his glitterball trophy after being crowned king of the dancefloor last Saturday, Ore said: "I'm a little rusty, it's been a while! What would you like me to do?"
After figuring out his lines and the camera he was meant to be talking into, Ore quickly moved back into presenter mode and beamed as he hosted his first segment in months.
To make it even more entertaining, the segment was on the International Horse Show - which among other wacky scenes, saw puppies riding a pony.
Stunned Ore said: "Dogs riding horses from Spain...are you making this up?!"
The excitable star then got excited as a Father Christmas in his sleigh appeared and he exclaimed: "Santa's here!! I haven't had Christmas at all - there's been no run up. So that is wonderful!"
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It was only after he'd done his duty that the group congratulated his win on the BBC dancing show.
At the end of the discussion, the group passed over to fellow former Strictly contestant, weather woman Carol Kirkwood.
Raising his glitterball to the screen to her, Ore announced: "Carol, this is for you. This is to you. You have been my inspiration for twelve months and now - we did it, Carol! WE DID IT!"
His appearance on the show comes after his win sparked a £500,000 bidding war between BBC and ITV after worried bosses thought he would defect to their main rival.
They fear he could be poached like Susanna Reid, 46, who joined ITV’s Good Morning Britain after finishing as the dance competition’s runner-up in 2013.
The Sun understands Ore, 30, could be offered the Friday presenting slot on The One Show.
BBC Controller Charlotte Moore was spotted chatting to him immediately after his victory, with insiders revealing there is a sense of panic at the Corporation after Ore stood in for Phillip Schofield, 54, on ITV’s This Morning last month.
When the star was crowned the winner last weekend, Ore struggled to speak before he turned to Joanne and said: “I love you. With all of my heart.
“I’m so speechless, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything that you’ve given me,” he added, before tearing up again.
Ore ended by saying: "You are the most incredible person, and this has been the most incredible experience of my life. I've learned to dance, made an incredible best friend, I've been on the show that I've loved for twelve years."
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