After 12 weeks of battling it out on the dance floor, BBC's Strictly Come Dancing will finally come to a close this weekend. Viewers have been gripped by a competition of highs and lows, stunning twirls and contest-ended injuries and, of course, more sequins than you could pick up off the floor.
As fans have been forced to wave goodbye to some of their favourite contestants, the standard of each finalist has only become better, and Saturday's finale promises to be something truly spectacular. The four remaining celebrities, Helen Skelton, Hamza Yassin, Fleur East, and Molly Rainford will each perform three dances for a chance to hold that Glitterball trophy high.
So far Fleur and partner Vito Coppola have been the only pair to achieve a perfect 40 from the judges, for their fiery Couple's Choice dance to a Destiny's Child remix in Week Eight, and the other couples will be hoping to join their ranks during Saturday's final.
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Each couple will be performing three dances in the final: one dance chosen by the judges, one dance chosen by the couple, and a showdance. Fleur will be repeating her flawless Couple's Choice dance in the final in hopes of wowing viewers once more.
Hamza Yassin
Consistent high-scorer Hamza - dancing with Jowita Przystał - is the current bookies favourite to win, with odds of 8/15. Hamza, wildlife cameraman and presenter on Animal Park, has received the highest vote from the judges for six of their dances - more than any other contestant this series.
The 32-year-old will be dancing a Salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez, his Couple's Choice to Jerusalema Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode, and a showdance to Let's Face the Music and Dance by Irving Berlin.
Speaking to former Strictly professional, Janette Marara at a press event, he said he was "nervous" leading up to the final. He went on to say: "I've been preparing to leave since week one," he stated. "I just don't think I can dance, still."
Helen Skelton
Praised by previous Strictly contestant Jayde Adams for her "hard-work" and confidence, Helen is chasing hotly on Hamza's tail with odds of 9/5 to win. The Countryfile presenter and former Blue Peter host, dancing with Gorka Marquez, has twice topped the judges scoring list, barely missing out on a perfect score during Musicals week.
Helen, 39, will be performing a Jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monáe, redoing their almost perfect Couple's Choice to Mein Herr from Cabaret, and performing a showdance to Shine by Emeli Sande.
The TV presenter has avoided being in the dance off through the entire series, something she views as a "massive compliment". Speaking ahead of Saturday's final, she said she's more excited about her fellow dancers reaction to her performance than the judges scores.
She said: “With respect, I take on board what the judges say, I respect what they say. But actually the thing for me that’s getting a 40 is getting up to Claudia's area and you’ve got people like Karen, Luba, Katya, them all going crazy and like that's our 40.
“You know, Johannes. When they say things like that, that reaction is worth 60, 70, 80 to me.”
Molly Rainford
The only couple to not be reperforming their Couple's Choice dance, Molly and partner Carlos Gu have odds of 40/1 to win the coveted Glitterball trophy. The pair have twice received the highest score from the judges throughout the competition, including for their Quickstep way back in Week two.
Molly, 22, will be performing a Quickstep to Love On Top by Beyoncé, a Rumba to All The Man I Need by Whitney Houston, and a showdance to Kiss/1999 by Prince. Last week's Paso Doble to I'm A Survivor gave the actor her highest score of the series so far, just one point short of a perfect 40.
Posting on Twitter, Molly said: "The Paso, our highest score of the series. Wow what a moment! This song just sums up our @bbcstrictly journey perfectly."
Fleur East
Pop star Fleur may currently have the lowest odds to win the show, at 66/1, but the ex-X-Factor contestant knows a thing or two about competing. With her partner, Vito, Fleur has three times topped the leaderboard, including with her fierce Couple's Choice dance, which she will be repeating tomorrow night.
The 35-year-old will be dancing a Samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow, a Couple's Choice to Destiny's Child megamix, and a showdance to Find Me by Sigma feat. Birdy.
When asked by It Takes Two presenter Rylan Clark about their decision to repeat the dance, the couple said it was not to do with the perfect score. Fleur said: "I am so excited to do it again because it was such a special moment for us."
Vito added: "Everybody thinks it's the Couple's Choice because of the 40. Because it's worth pointing out that's the mark we are trying to make of course, the maximum score. But it was not because of that, but because we dedicated that dance to Fleur's family. That is the reason why - we got this kind of vibes and energy.":
He continued: "I always touch her ring, her dad is always with us."
He also explained: "We said 'OK let's do a dance for them for him', let's make them proud, so that's why we chose that dance." Fleur's dad died in 2020, and the singer has previously said she is doing the show for him.
The Strictly Come Dancing grand final can be viewed on BBC One at 7.07pm on Saturday, December 17.
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