Strictly Come Dancing rakes in 13MILLION viewers during Saturday’s final to become the most-watched non-news TV show of 2020
Competitors Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse sashayed their way to success as they took home the Glitterball trophy on Saturday’s final show.
And now Strictly Come Dancing have announced another victory after amassing 13 million viewers for their penultimate episode of the year.
In a report published by the BBC Press Office on Sunday, the dancing competition final became the most-watched, non-news based TV show of 2020.
Success! The BBC Press Office revealed on Sunday that Strictly Come Dancing amassed 13 million viewers for Saturday’s final to become the most-watched non-news TV show of 2020
In a statement released by Acting Controller of BBC One, Kate Phillips, she said: ‘Strictly has provided much needed sparkle to our weekends this autumn and last night’s final brought pure joy to over 13 million viewers all over the UK as Bill and Oti lifted the glitter ball.’
The comedian, 55, became the oldest champion in the show’s history as he lifted the trophy and paid tribute to his professional partner, Oti,30, for ‘turning him into a dancer.’
The win also turned his dancing co-star into Strictly’s first ever back-to-back champion. She subsequently praised Bill for being ‘a friend, father figure and brother,’ after they beat HRVY, Maisie Smith and Jamie Laing in the final.
Proud moment: In a statement released by Acting Controller of BBC One, Kate Phillips, she said: ‘Strictly has provided much needed sparkle to our weekends this autumn’
As they prepared to lift the sparkling award, Bill said: ‘It feels surreal, it feels extraordinary, it feels wonderful, I never thought we’d get to the final but I had the most extraordinary teacher, the most extraordinary dancer, who believed in me right from the beginning and she found something in me and turned me into a dancer.’
Oti fought back tears as she said: ‘I think you are amazing, remarkable Bill Bailey, you just put your heart into everything. You’re in your world, but I love your world and I always want to be a part of you, thank you for being a friend, thank you for being a father figure and a brother and for this!’ as she gestured to the sparkling trophy.’
Earlier in the show Bill and Oti delivered a fierce Showdance complete with pyrotechnics, lifts, and plenty of drama, to Queen’s The Show Must Go On, with even Craig gushing it ‘reeked of desperation and he loved it.’
The duo received their first ever 30 for the performance, and the first perfect score of the evening, with Bill on the verge of tears as he vowed the dance was a symbol of the nation carrying on during such unprecedented times.
It came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier in the day that much of London and the South East would be plunged into a new Tier 4 just days before Christmas.
He told Claudia: ‘The restrictions are going to be harder. People are going to be isolated over Christmas. This is not just a song about the arts. This is an anthem about not giving up, keeping hope. Getting through this. The show must go on.’
The hosts also took a moment to thank the show’s crew for keeping the show afloat during the pandemic, saying much of their team made ‘huge sacrifices’ to ensure the series could go ahead.
Wow! Bill Bailey, 55, became the oldest champion in the show’s history as he and dance partner Oti Mabuse, 30, sashayed their way to victory and took home the Glitterball trophy this year