Former Coronation street star Alexandra Mardell has been crowned the winner of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing special on Christmas Day.
The actor was partnered with the BBC One show’s professional dance partner Kai Widdrington in the festive edition of the hit ballroom dance competition.
The Christmas champions wowed the judges and the studio audience with their Quickstep to ‘Sleigh Ride’ by The Ronettes before lifting the glistening Strictly Silver Star trophy.
This year on the pre-recorded Christmas special, six brand new celebrities took to the Strictly floor to celebrate Christmas.
The star-studded line-up included Alexandra and Kai, as well as actor Larry Lamb and Nadiya Bychkova, podcaster Rosie Ramsey partnered with Neil Jones, actor George Webster dancing with Amy Dowden, DJ Ricky Haywood-Williams paired with Luba Mushtuk and singer Nicola Roberts alongside Giovanni Pernice.
Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the Christmas special was presided over by the eagle-eyed judging panel onCraig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and head judge, Shirley Ballas.
The Christmas special started with a sensational group routine to a festive medley of Let It Snow, The Nutcracker Suite and Santa Claus is Coming to Town, featuring the celebrities and their professional partners.
The special then saw each couple then take to the ballroom dance floor to perform their individual festive routines.
Once all couples had danced, the studio audience voted for their favourite and their votes were combined with the judges' scores to decide the winner.
Tess and Claudia announced Alexandra and Kai as the Christmas champions before presenting them with the sought-after Strictly Silver Star trophy.
Alexandra said: “I am so shocked, I cannot thank you enough. I’m so happy about that, I did that for you [Kai] as well, I can’t believe it.”
The final sprinkling of glitter was a special musical performance from none other than former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.
Bruno appeared in the Strictly studio to sing his version of Don’t Leave Me This Way by The Communards, accompanied by professional dancers Dianne Buswell, Cameron Lombard, Nikita Kuzmin, Michelle Tsiakkas, Karen Hauer and Lauren Oakley.
To close the show in true Strictly style, the couples and judges all graced the ballroom once more for a Christmas cracker of a performance to All You Need is Love by The Beatles.
The Christmas special came after another dazzling Strictly Come Dancing run this autumn, which saw a fresh batch of celebrities battle it out to lift the Glitterball trophy.
Ultimately, wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin claimed the coveted gong alongside dance partner Jowita Przystal, beating out Molly Rainford, Fleur East and Helen Skelton.
