What? What? We’ve won?

Bill’s shock at being Strictly champion

COMEDIAN Bill Bailey lifted the glitterball trophy last night after winning Strictly Come Dancing in its closest ever final. l.

After the verdict, the stunned comic omic and musician asked: “What? What? We’ve won?”

The 55- year- old added: “It feels surreal, it feels extraordinary, it feels eels wonderful. I never thought that we would get this far.”

He praised his professional dance ce partner Oti Mabuse, who won the he show for second year in a row.

Turning to a tearful Oti, whose e sister Motsi on the judging panel l was also in tears, he said: “I had the e most extraordinary teacher, the e most extraordinar extraordinary dancer, who believed in me right from the beginning and she found something somet in me, turned me into... a dance dancer.”

An emot emotional Oti replied: “You are amazing amazing, remarkable.

“You just put your heart into everyt everything, you put your soul into e everything. You’re in your worl world but I love your world.”

T Three of the four finalists fini finished on 88 points apiece DELIGHT DELI Bill and partner Oti with the judges’ scores, but on the night it was down to Strictly’s legions of viewers to choose their champion.

HRVY had been widely tipped to win, with his partner Janette Manrara making it to her first final after eight years.

He finished on an equal judges’ score with Bill and Maisie Smith, the youngest ever finalist, whose professional partner for the series was Gorka Marquez.

Jamie Laing and professional Karen Hauer were last among the finalists.

Our dancefloor Queen gives her verdict on this year’s show...

WHAT a series! It couldn’t have been closer but Bill Bailey was the people’s champion – and Oti won for the second year in a row. It was neck and neck at the top – and on a day of bad news for the country, Strictly delivered some much-needed festive cheer. Even meany Craig went soft last night, vowing to “be more positive”. And in the end a 55-year-old comic was top dog in a weird and wacky year. The show was a smash hit – just when we needed it

most.

BIG FIGHT Jamie Laing did his best STRICTLY superfan Camilla Parker Bowles became the second royal to appear on this year’s series when she recorded a special message to the finalists and fans ahead of the winning announcement. The Duchess told viewers, “I know who I’m voting for” after it was revealed the 73-year-old watches the show every week – and even votes. She also praised the BBC show for helping to “cheer the nation” during the “bleak” pandemic. Earlier in the series Prince Harry sent a message of support to fellow ex-soldier JJ Chalmers. LEAN MACHINE Maisie and Gorka in tricky move STUNNED Bill and Oti hear result Tune in on Christmas Day for the Strictly Come Dancing: The Christmas Countdown, the 25 most memorable dances at 4.45pm on BBC1. STICK WITH IT Winning duo strut their stuff KAREN ROCKETT

NEED A LIFT? HRVY picks up dancer Janette