Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas said there were 'one in two mistakes' in Hamza Yassin's second dance of the night. That was despite him being the bookies' favourite to take home the glitterball.
Wildlife cameraman Hamza said performing a show dance to Let’s Face The Music And Dance by Irving Berlin in the final was 'nerve racking' as he stood alongside partner Jowita Przystal. And the Bangor University graduate even appeared tearful after the dance drew criticism from the judges.
Shirley said: "It was the first time Hamza that I thought I saw a little panic. It went wrong and it just took a few seconds, which I know felt a lifetime to you, to keep going.
"What I applaud you is that you are able to pick it up and hit that high lift at the end, which is not easy to do. There were one or two mistakes unfortunately but know in your heart it was unfortunate, you are a beautiful dancer."
Fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood said: “It did go a little bit wrong. It was classy and classic like yourself.”
Hamza scored 34 for his second dance. Earlier in the evening he had scored 39 points for his first dance of the night.
Hamza and Jowita started with a lively and energetic performance of the judges’ pick routine of the salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez. They received standing ovations from judges Shirley and Motsi Mabusi.
- Strictly Come Dancing is airing on BBC One until 9.35pm tonight (December 17). The winner will be announced on the live show.
