Actor Jamie Borthwick has been crowned the winner of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, alongside his professional partner Nancy Xu. The Christmas champions wowed the judges and the studio audience with their Quickstep before lifting the glistening Strictly Silver Star trophy.
This year, six brand new celebrities took to the floor for a festive edition of Strictly Come Dancing to celebrate the magic of Christmas. The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas line-up included, Sally Nugent and Graziano Di Prima, Dan Snow and Nadiya Bychkova, Danny Cipriani and Jowita Przystał, Tillie Amartey and Neil Jones, Jamie Borthwick and Nancy Xu, and Keisha Buchanan and Gorka Márquez.
Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and keeping an eagle eye on every festive footstep are the judges Craig 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 It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, featuring the celebrities and their professional partners. Each couple then took to the dance floor to perform their individual seasonal routines.
Dan Snow and Nadiya dancing the Jive to All I want for Christmas . The judges scored him Craig 7, Motsi 7, Shirley 7, Anton 9 total of 30
Keisha and Gorka dancing the Viennese Waltz to Snowman. The judges scored them Craig 8, Motsi 8, Shirley 8, Anton 9 total of 33.
Danny and Jowita dancing the Cha-Cha to Celebration. The judges scored them Craig 9, Motsi 9, Shirley 9, Anton 10 total of 37
Tillie and Neil dancing the Jive to Underneath the Tree. The judges scored them Craig 9, Motsi 10, Shirley 10 , Anton 10 total of 39.
Sally and Graziano dancing the Foxtrot to Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The judges scored them Craig 9, Motsi 9, Shirley 10, Anton 10 total of 38.
Jamie and Nancy dancing the Quick Step to Merry Christmas Everyone. The judges scored them Craig 10, Motsi 10, Shirley 10, Anton 10 total of 40.
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 Jamie Borthwick and Nancy Xu as the Christmas champions before presenting them with the sought-after Strictly Silver Star trophy.
The final sprinkling of glitter was a special musical performance from pop-sensation Sam Ryder, he performed his new single You’re Christmas To Me, accompanied by professional dancers Giovanni Pernice, Lauren Oakley, Kai Widdrington and Luba Mushtuk.
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 What Christmas Means to Me.
Anton du Beke said of Jamie’s performance, “You were a surprise and a delight. Magnificent!”
Craig Revel Horwood said, “Jamie you sleighed me darling, you were Fab-U-Lous!”
Motsi Mabuse said, “The surprise of the evening and a perfect end.”
Shirley Ballas said, “If I could jump over this bar and quickstep around the room I would do it with you! I don’t have a paddle high enough for you.”
Jamie Borthwick said: “This is great, it’s been a wonderful experience, but we’re all winners here. This show is magic.”
Jamie Borthwick is best-known for portraying the role of Jay Brown in EastEnders. Since his first appearance in 2014, Jamie has been involved in some of the show’s most gripping storylines and most recently won Best Actor at the Inside Soap Awards for his involvement in the award-winning ‘Loving and Losing Lola’ storyline which saw on-screen wife Lola (played by Danielle Harold) die of a terminal brain tumour.
Watch the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special on BBC iPlayer.
