STRICTLY BILLROOM
Bill Bailey, 55, and Oti Mabuse sob with joy as he’s crowned the oldest ever Strictly Come Dancing winner
COMEDIAN Bill Bailey was last night crowned the oldest ever Strictly champ at 55 — after his dances with partner Oti Mabuse left the judges in awe.
Tears streaked double Glitterball champ Oti's face after hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced the couple as winners.
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She jumped for joy and was left wide-eyed over the victory, while Bill looked stunned as he raised his hands to his head.
The suited pair hugged and screamed before putting their hands on the prestigious telly prize.
While Oti's sister Motsi was left sobbing behind her judging desk, overjoyed for her younger sibling's unlikely win at the end of the most difficult Strictly series ever.
Bill was lauded as an inspiration to “Dad dancers” after his extraordinary progress during the series from a novice to a ballroom winner.
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He beat the record of the oldest champion by 13 years — Holby City actor Joe McFadden was 42 when he lifted the Glitterball Trophy in 2017.
His odds at one point with the bookies were 66-1.
After being announced the winner, Bill said: “It feels surreal, it feels extraordinary, it feels wonderful. I never thought we would get this far.”
He thanked dance partner Oti Mabuse saying “she turned me into a dancer”.
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Oti said to Bill: “I think you are amazing, remarkable.
“You just put your heart into everything, you put your soul into everything.
“You’re in your world, but I love your world. Thank you for being a friend, a father figure to me, a brother and for this (the trophy).”
Bill, who is married to Kristin and has a 17-year-old son Dax, told earlier how the show had changed his life and made him stronger.
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He said: “I think that certainly Strictly has added a bit of spice to my day job.
“It gives you a degree of toughness. Dancing live on television in front of millions of people is one of the most nerve-wracking things I think I’ve ever done.
“And I’ve done a few things. I’ve jumped out of planes, I’ve been sky diving, I’ve whitewater rafted, I’ve played in front of thousands of people at rock festivals.
“But this is something totally different.
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This is out of my comfort zone, into a completely different arena.
“But being able to do it, being able to pull it off, and with some degree of success as well, and not just about getting through it, actually committing fully to the performance, giving it my all, finding the steps and putting a bit of style into it as well, which is something I never expected, is really something special.”
At the start of last night’s final co-host Tess Daly — just minutes after Boris Johnson sent most of the nation into Christmas lockdown — told millions of viewers: “If ever people needed cheering up, it’s now.
“After another tough day, we are going to try our very best to keep you entertained with an unforgettable night of dance.”
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Acid-tongue judge Craig Revel Horwood vowed to be nice, saying: “In light of the recent news, I’ve decided I’m going to be positive. You may not recognise me.”
On last night’s final, the four couples had to perform three routines each.
The finalists were HRVY and Janette Manrara, Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez, Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer, and Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse.
Bill got 29 points for the quick step, then a perfect 30 score for the show dance and a mark of 29 for the couple’s choice.
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HRVY had kicked off the show with a jive, saying he would give the trophy to his grandmother if he won.
Shirley said Maisie’s samba, her first dance, was “absolutely exceptional, fantastic”.
Fellow judge Motsi added: “You are a changed woman. It was amazing, out of this world.”
They got 29 points for that dance.
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In a comedy moment Jamie Laing’s sister Emily asked for Giovanni Pernice’s phone number in a recorded video message sent in to the show.
He and Karen Hauer got 26 points for the Charleston, his first routine.
He said he felt “proud” being in the final having ended up in the bottom dance-off four times during the series.
Former Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams made a return to the show with dance partner Katya Jones — who had to pull out earlier in the series with Covid.
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They made history as Strictly’s first same-sex couple.
Just before the winner was crowned all of the couples from the series reunited for a group dance to Sweet Caroline.
Strictly's Maisie Smith breaks down in tears as she says she's transformed from 'shy, nervous teen' into 'confident woman'
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