Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2024? Winners lift Glitterball trophy in epic final
by Jessica Sansome · Manchester Evening NewsIt's taken 13 weeks to get here but the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2024 have officially been crowned after an epic final live show on Saturday night (December 14).
Chris McCausland, Sarah Hadland, JB Gill and Tasha Ghouri all made it to the final of the BBC One dance contest - alongside their professional dance partners Dianne Buswell, Vito Coppola, Lauren Oakley and Aljaz Skorjanec.
Each couple performed three dances each - their favourite from the series, a dance from the series which was picked for them by the judges and a ‘showdance’ that they used to show off everything they have learnt in the past three months - in what was an epic finale of the show's latest run.
But the title went to Chris and professional dancer Dianne after they beat off stiff competition from their fellow finalists on the spectacular night.
The final saw JB and Lauren kick off the night by recreating their quarter-final Viennese waltz to Let’s Go Fly A Kite from Mary Poppins. - receiving a perfect score of 40. The couple also received full marks for a samba to Mas Que Nada, by Sergio Mendes and 39 for a Motown Medley, which featured Marvin Gaye’s Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.
After receiving their final score of the series Craig Revel Horwood called him 'sensational', and Motsi Mabuse said he was “a role model”, and in her eyes he was already a champion.
Tasha and Alijaz got 39 points for their opening couple’s choice routine to What About Us by P!nk. They followed that up with scoring full marks to an “old-timey” performance to Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman, and for an American smooth to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi.
After their final dance the Love Island star was told “you carry yourself with such elegance, and beauty, you are very special”, by head judge Shirley Ballas.
Chris and Dianne opened with a couple's choice to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon scoring 38. They also scored 38 for their show dance to You Get What You Give by New Radicals and ended with full marks for a dance to You'll Never Walk Alone.
Following their final dance Motsi Mabuse said Chris was not just an inspiration for the blind community, but also “a role model for each and every one of us”, and head judge Shirley Ballas got off her chair to give Buswell a hug and hail her as an “amazing teacher”.
Craig added that his “eyes opened” after visiting the studio to see Chris and Dianne perform, and also read out a Christmas card to the comedian, where he called him a “light that shines for all to see”.
Shirley also rose from her seat to give Dianne a hug and describe her as an “amazing teacher”.
And Sarah and Vito scored 39 points for their opening American smooth to Proud by Heather Small. They received 39 points to their show dance to Cabaret by Metropole Orkest and ended on full marks for their Madonna-inspired Cha Cha to Like a Prayer.