Strictly Come Dancing: Alexandra Burke cries during final

She decided to do Strictly Come Dancing in ode to her singer mother Melissa Bell, who died in August after a nine-year battle with kidney disease.

And Alexandra Burke became emotional as she reflected on her ‘tough journey’ to get to the glittering Grand Final on Saturday night, after performing a dazzling jive to Tina Turner’s Proud Mary.

Clutching a tissue in her hand, the 29-year-old singer welled up as she said: ‘I really don’t want to cry. It’s been a tough journey and for it to be the last one with you [partner Gorka Marquez], I’m gutted about that.’ 

Holding back the tears, she added: ‘It has brought so much joy to my life. I am so so happy, let’s just enjoy the rest of the night. 

‘I really believe my family would be proud, I think my mum would be the proudest mother. To know I continued with her dream and was part of something so great, and something so magical…’ 

Spaniard Gorka, 27, replied: ‘It has always been incredible. It’s the last time I’m going to be holding her and that is making me emotional right now.’ 

Too much: Clutching a tissue in her hand, the 29-year-old singer welled up as she said: ‘I really don’t want to cry. It’s been a tough journey and for it to be the last one with you {partner Gorka Marquez], I’m gutted about that’

Meanwhile the tributes poured in from her family, with her dad saying: ‘You continue to be my little diamond,’ while her boyfriend Josh added: ‘You’ve done us all very proud. Good luck, I love you.’ 

After her incredible jive, Shirley gushed: ‘This is absolute pure brilliance from beginning to end. You’re just always a sparkle and a bubble. You have done magnificently this season.’

Taking centre-stage: After her incredible jive, Shirley gushed: ‘This is absolute pure brilliance from beginning to end. You’re just always a sparkle and a bubble. You have done magnificently this season’

Bruno added: ‘I’m sure this will go down in the Strictly Come Dancing hall of fame,’ while Craig, clearly rendered speechless by her performance, gave her a standing ovation.’

Darcey commented: ‘You are outdoing Mr Gorka! I can’t believe you did that. Please just tell me when you’re going to perform next because I want to be there and I want to see it.’

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

Featuring elements of elements of quickstep, American smooth and Argentine tango, the dance certainly left the judging panel impressed.

Bruno said Alexandra was the ‘top of the pops’ and added: ‘I loved the way you wrapped it into a beautiful tribute to the movies.’ 

Darcey added: ‘I really loved it. Great variety, I thought the energy was brilliant throughout and I loved the brilliant surprises throughout.’

They awarded the beaming couple a glittering 39, leaving a breathless Alexandra gushing ‘I’m just trying to digest it!’