All that glitters as Bosses seek to sign bigger stars
Actor tipped for stardom on stage after victory in final
Soap star Kelvin Fletcher danced off with the famous glitter ball trophy last night after a superstar samba helped him win Strictly Come Dancing.
The actor and partner Oti Mabuse delivered a sizzling performance in their final dance before winning the public vote to triumph in the final of the BBC dance show.
They dazzled with a big finale, a reprise of their favourite dance from the series, a samba to La Vida Es Un Carnival. They scored 39 out of 40 with the judges but only the public vote mattered.
The pair were one of three couples dancing off in last night’s final and, according to the judges, were just one point behind CCBC presenter Karim Zeroual, 25, and Amy Dowden.
But viewers had other ideas. Taylor Swift provided some superstar entertainment as tension built and the votes were counted.
After the result was announced, an emotional Kelvin, who was only a late addition to the line-up after Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing got injured in rehearsals, said: “I’m absolutely speechless. I did not expect that. It’s been such a privilege to be here. This show represents everything that is great about this country.”
The judges had also hailed the third finalists, Eastenders star Emma Barton, 42, and veteran Strictly professional Anton du Beke, but there could only be one victorious couple.
Before their showstopping samba, bookies’ favourite Kelvin, 35, and professional Oti, wowed the audience with their rumba to Ain’t No Sunshine from week four of the competition, and a showdance to Shout by The Isley Brothers.
The judges and studio audience loved his performances in all three dances with standing ovations from Shirley Ballas. His show dance left her fellow judge Bruno
Tonioli ecstatically announcing: “It was a tour de force! It was like watching the whole 13 weeks of the best bits of Strictly all in one dance.”
Actress Natalie Robb, who plays Moira Barton in Emmerdale and worked alongside Kelvin, said her former co-star could soon be hitting the stage in London’s West End.
She said: “Kelvin is doing tremendously, we’re all really proud of him. You can tell he absolutely loves it. He’s fantastic.
“Kelvin is a bit of a dark horse anyway, he’s very talented at a lot of different things but I was pretty impressed with some of the moves he’s done. It has required a lot of body strength so I’ve been very impressed with him.
“Maybe this will set him up for other things. I bet he’ll end up in the West End or something.
Meanwhile, Strictly bosses have been urged to make at least one A- list signing next year after the latest series of the dance spectacular shed one million viewers.
Fans have claimed the series is still a winner but warn that some of the dancers this year were better known than their celebrity
du Beke and performed to the judges’ pick of a Charleston to Thoroughly Modern Millie from Musicals Week and a showdance to Let Yourself Go by Irving Berlin.
Partnered with Amy Dowden, CCBC presenter Karim Zeroual, 25, danced a showdance to A Million Dreams by Pink, the judges’ choice of their week seven routine to Mr Pinstripe Suit by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Meanwhile, bookie’s favourite Kelvin Fletcher, 35, and professional Oti Mabuse, wowed the audience with their rumba to Ain’t No Sunshine from week four of the competition, and a showdance to Shout by The Isley Brothers.
Actress Natalie Robb, who plays Moira Barton on Emmerdale and worked alongside Kelvin, says her former co-star could soon be hitting the stage in London’s West End.
She said: “Kelvin is doing tremendously, we’re all really proud of him. You can tell he absolutely loves it. He’s fantastic.
“Kelvin is a bit of a dark horse anyway, he’s very talented at a lot of different things but I was pretty impressed with some of the moves he’s done. It has required a lot of body strength so I’ve been very impressed with him, it looks like such hard work. “Maybe this will set him up for other things. I bet he’ll end up in the West End or something. Good on him. He’s gone out his comfort zone and has absolutely smashed it.
“He’s great to work with. Such a lovely guy and he’s always been a bit of a joker. He has a really dry sense of humour. He was definitely the joker on set.”