Wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin and partner Jowita Przystal have won Strictly Come Dancing 2022.
The 32-year-old wildlife cameraman and presenter beat three other couples – Fleur East and Vito Coppola, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, and Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez – to lift the glitterball trophy on Saturday.
An emotional Yassin said: “It’s hard to describe how I feel…Jovita you are an angel disguised as a human being.”
Przystal said he came into the show with “pigeon toes” and she was honoured to help him win.
During the last show of the series, all couples had to perform a routine chosen by the judges, their own favourite dance and finally a show dance.
After the three advisory scores were given by the judges, East and Coppola were top of the leaderboard with 119 points, with Skelton and Marquez coming second on 116 points.
Rainford and Gu received a total of 115 points, and Yassin and Przystal came bottom on 113 points.
But the public vote ultimately decided who lifted the coveted glitterball trophy for 2022.
Yassin faced a tough final with Przystal as they were criticised for mistakes in their second dance, Let’s Face The Music And Dance by Irving Berlin.
He was tearful as head judge Shirley Ballas said: “Well it was the first time…I saw a little panic, it went wrong… What I applaud is you were able to hit that high lift in the end.”
But he recovered in his final dance of couple’s choice to Jerusalema Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode, and received a standing ovation from Ballas.
Anton Du Beke said: “I get really emotional watching you dance because it’s like the clouds part when you come onto the floor and the sun comes out. You bring a smile to everyone’s face.”
Yassin also earned his first perfect score on his last dance of the competition.
His performance of the judges’ pick routine, a salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez, also won him praise and standing ovations from Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.
Ballas said: “Your lifts went higher, your turns were spot on… I thought you were fantastic.”
TV presenter Skelton and her partner Marquez wrapped up the competition with their dance to Mein Herr by Liza Minnelli (from Cabaret), earning them their only 40 points of the night.
They got standing ovations from judges Ballas and Mabuse – and shouts of “Helen, Helen” from the crowd.
Du Beke said: “This reaction is what we live for as performers.”
Their show dance to Shine by Emeli Sande and jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monae at the request of the judges also got high scores.
