Over three months of goodwill, glamor and chaotic judging, 15 pro-celeb couples were whittled down to a whopping four. Yassin was in the box, topping the leaderboard five times and was the top scorer in the race. As possibly the least-known entrant this year, the 32-year-old is “expected to be knocked out by week two.” He exceeded all expectations thanks to his natural musicality, light feet and immense likability, not to mention the close bond he had formed with his partner Jowita Przystal (“an angel dressed as a human being,” Yassin said in his victory speech). Yassin was no longer the least known. A star is born. The BBC lined up a natural history series for him to host and he was hailed as “the next David Attenborough”. In her first series with a partner, the Polish pocket rocket Przystal shone next to him.
For this crucial event, each couple performed three numbers: their own favourite, the judges’ choice and a no-rules, stunning performance – always eagerly awaited as they show off everything they’ve learned and throw the sparkling kitchen sink over the choreography. Surprisingly, they turned out to be the weakest numbers of the night, overlapping with the Couple’s Choice category. Yasin revisited his roof-raising routine, complete with salsa and innovative Afrobeats. On a night that favored freestyle, his show with Fred and Ginger was a welcome return to Strictly’s ballroom roots.
His closest rival in the bookmakers’ odds was former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton. “Travel” is an overused word in competitions like this, but it certainly applies. The mother-of-three split from her husband, rugby league player Richie Myler, earlier this year. She started out nervous but rediscovered her confidence as the series progressed. Skelton was a transformed woman, a testament to the power of dance. In many other years she would have won.
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