Strictly Come Dancing final: Alexandra Burke starts show

She has been training for months and performing live for 13 weeks in a bid to claim the coveted Strictly Come Dancing glitterball. 

And Alexandra Burke kicked off the dancing competition’s hotly-tipped Grand Final with a showstopping American Smooth on Saturday night, to the My Fair Lady tune Wouldn’t It Be Lovely.

Afterwards, the 29-year-old former X Factor winner gushed: ‘It feels out of this world. I just want to do that again. And we’re in the final! Yes!’

 

We have lift off! Alexandra Burke kicked off the Grand Final with a showstopping American Smooth on Saturday night, to the My Fair Lady tune Wouldn’t It Be Lovely

Shirley said: ‘You truly captured the essence of everything this final is about. So feminine, you brought a much softer side. It was exquisite.’

Bruno added: ‘Lovelier than ever. Your greatest quality is that you give your heart and soul, you don’t hold back.’

Craig deadpanned: ‘I thought it was absolutely dreadful because I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it.

They scored 8s and 9s when they first performed the dance in week three, but their second performance won them a whopping score of 40. 

Elegant: Afterwards, the 29-year-old singer gushed: 'It feels out of this world. I just want to do that again. And we're in the final! Yes!

Elegant: Afterwards, the 29-year-old singer gushed: ‘It feels out of this world. I just want to do that again. And we’re in the final! Yes!

Impressive: Shirley said: 'You truly captured the essence of everything this final is about. So feminine, you brought a much softer side. It was exquisite'

Impressive: Shirley said: ‘You truly captured the essence of everything this final is about. So feminine, you brought a much softer side. It was exquisite’

Next up was Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice’s salsa to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Boys Town Gang.

Bruno said baffled: ‘She’s like a TARDIS. You defy all concept of physics and time. You dance like a 20-year-old.’

Darcey gushed over her ‘chemistry and ‘partnership’ with Giovannie, saying it ‘gels to perfection’ – prompting the dancer to plant a kiss on Debbie’s forehead.

And the gushing comments translated into a dazzling score of 39 points –  leaving the duo jumping up and down with joy.

Winning them round: Craig deadpanned: 'I thought it was absolutely dreadful because I couldn't find a single thing wrong with it'

Winning them round: Craig deadpanned: ‘I thought it was absolutely dreadful because I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it’

Round of applause: Alexandra's relatives beamed as they watched on in the audience 

Round of applause: Alexandra’s relatives beamed as they watched on in the audience 

Gemma and Aljaz Judges Pick dance was the Paso Doble to Viva La Vida by Coldplay. 

Craig said she had ‘fantastic focus, strong lines, really suits your frame’, while Darcey added that she had ‘drama, determination and you held the passion to the last beat’.

Placing them in third place, the partners got a final score of 36 points.

Next up was Joe and Katya, whose ‘Judges Pick’ dance was the Viennese Waltz to Somewhere My Love from Dr Zhivago.

Darcy said: ‘You rose to the challenge, improved your posture, it was one of my favourites of the series.

Shirley added: ‘It was big, bold and beautiful and if I had one, you’d get an 11-paddle for that professional-standard.’

They were awarded 9, 10, 10, 10 for a total of 39 points, making them joint second with Debbie. 

Sizzling: Next up was Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice's salsa to Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Boys Town Gang

Sizzling: Next up was Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice’s salsa to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Boys Town Gang

Kicking off the showdances was Alexandra and Gorka, gliding across the floor to There’s No Business Like Showbusiness by Ethel Merman.

Meanwhile Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman put their best sartorial foot forward for the dancing competition’s glittering Grand Final on Saturday night.

Can't believe it: Bruno said baffled: 'She's like a TARDIS. You defy all concept of physics and time. You dance like a 20-year-old'

Can’t believe it: Bruno said baffled: ‘She’s like a TARDIS. You defy all concept of physics and time. You dance like a 20-year-old’

The blonde beauty looked showstopping in a scarlet strapless jumpsuit, while Claudia kept it chic in a romantic Bardot navy gown.  

Tess ensured all eyes were on her with her striking one-piece, which featured a structured tulip-hem bodice.

Styling her glossy golden tresses in polished waves, the presenter complemented her look with a slick of scarlet lipstick. 

Passion: Darcey gushed over her 'chemistry and 'partnership' with Giovannie, saying it 'gels to perfection' - prompting the dancer to plant a kiss on Debbie's forehead

Passion: Darcey gushed over her ‘chemistry and ‘partnership’ with Giovannie, saying it ‘gels to perfection’ – prompting the dancer to plant a kiss on Debbie’s forehead

Nailing it: And the gushing comments translated into a dazzling score of 39 points - leaving the duo jumping up and down with joy

Nailing it: And the gushing comments translated into a dazzling score of 39 points – leaving the duo jumping up and down with joy

Meanwhile, Claudia stuck to her favoured monochrome palette with her navy number, which featured an irreverent semi-sheer hemline. 

The judges picked a routine from the series for the couples to dance again in the Grand Final, as well as a dazzling showdance and choose their favourite dance from the show as the third and final routine.

Gemma and Aljaz’s showdance they’ll do Show Me How You Burlesque by Christina Aguilera.

Joe’s showdance will be to 80s classic You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates.

Passion: Gemma and Aljaz Judges Pick dance was the Paso Doble to Viva La Vida by Coldplay

Passion: Gemma and Aljaz Judges Pick dance was the Paso Doble to Viva La Vida by Coldplay

Loving it: . Craig said she had 'fantastic focus, strong lines, really suits your frame', while Darcey added that she had 'drama, determination and you held the passion to the last beat'

Loving it: . Craig said she had ‘fantastic focus, strong lines, really suits your frame’, while Darcey added that she had ‘drama, determination and you held the passion to the last beat’

Debbie and Giovanie will perform to One Day I’ll Fly Away by Vaults for the dramatic showdance.

Joe and Katua The couples’ choice dances have yet to be revealed. 

Ed Sheeran will perform in the final as he attempts to clinch the Christmas number one spot.

The singer-songwriter was revealed as a performer by the BBC hours before the show and was snapped backstage by Strictly stars including presenter Tess Daly.

She posed with Sheeran while fellow red-head Neil Jones – a pro dancer on the show – photobombed them.

Daly wrote on the Instagram post: ‘Thrilled to see the BRILLIANT Ed Sheeran on tonight’s Strictly Final; the most down to earth superstar you could wish to meet; what a lovely genuine guy.’

Jones also got a selfie with the singer, who he joked was a ‘brother from another mother’. ‘You will love his performance tonight’ Jones wrote.

Taking centre-stage: Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman put their best sartorial foot forward for the dancing competition's glittering Grand Final on Saturday night

Taking centre-stage: Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman put their best sartorial foot forward for the dancing competition’s glittering Grand Final on Saturday night

Looking good: The blonde beauty looked showstopping in a scarlet strapless jumpsuit, while Claudia kept it chic in a romantic Bardot navy gown

Looking good: The blonde beauty looked showstopping in a scarlet strapless jumpsuit, while Claudia kept it chic in a romantic Bardot navy gown

Sheeran is on track to clinch next week’s Christmas number one with a remix of his single Perfect which features US superstar Beyonce.

Meanwhile, Paralympian Jonnie Peacock warmed up for his final Strictly Come Dancing appearance by appearing to enjoy a few drinks.

The sprinter – who was knocked out with partner Oti Mabuse in week nine of the series – will return to the dance floor alongside the rest of the class of 2017 for the group dance.

Hours before the final show he posted a snap of a half-empty bottle of spiced rum alongside the words: ‘The show hasn’t even begun yet … its going to be a fun one!!’

Scarlet siren: Tess ensured all eyes were on her with her striking one-piece, which featured a structured tulip-hem bodice

Scarlet siren: Tess ensured all eyes were on her with her striking one-piece, which featured a structured tulip-hem bodice

Beating the blues: Meanwhile, Claudia stuck to her favoured monochrome palette with her navy number, which featured an irreverent semi-sheer hemline

Beating the blues: Meanwhile, Claudia stuck to her favoured monochrome palette with her navy number, which featured an irreverent semi-sheer hemline

Scottish comedian Susan Calman – who was knocked out in week ten of the competition – shared a tribute to the show ahead of her own final dance.

She wrote: ‘Strictly final starts soon. My last time dancing on the most amazing show on television. 

‘Make up, hair, wardrobe, props, floor mangers, band, production, VT teams, runners and every other person who makes the show work have made this the best experience of my life. Thank you.’

Judge Bruno Tonioli also joined in the fun, sharing a photo of him dancing naked on Twitter. He wrote: ‘When I get excited!? It’s going to be a HUGE show.’ 

 



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