Strictly Come Dancing final watched by peak of 13.2 million - the highest since 2012

Strictly Come Dancing 2020
Bill Bailey winning Saturday night’s final
PA
Lizzie Edmonds @lizzieedmo20 December 2020

The Strictly Come Dancing final attracted an average of 11.6 million and a peak of 13.2 million viewers - the highest figures in eight years.

It was the most watched show across all channels on Saturday night, with a 53.3 per cent audience share.

Bill Bailey and his South African dance partner Oti Mabuse were crowned as the winners - with Mabuse lifting the glitterball for a second consecutive year. At 55, comedian Bailey is the oldest contestant ever to win the BBC show.

Kate Phillips, acting controller of BBC One, 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 glitterball.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2020
PA

They were the highest viewing figures since a peak of 14 million people tuned in to watch Olympian Louis Smith win the 10th series of the show in 2012. The gymnast’s win was watched by an average audience of 12.4 million.

Last year the final, where actor Kelvin Fletcher lifted the glitterball trophy with Mabuse, was watched by an average of 11.3 million people. The peak audience was 12.5 million viewers.

In 2018, a peak of 12.7 million viewers watched journalist Stacey Dooley and partner Kevin Clifton win.

The year before, actor Joe McFadden attracted a peak audience of 13.1 million.

In 2017, a peak of 13.1m people tuned in for final, won by presenter Ore Oduba.

Strictly Come Dancing 2020
Finalist Jamie Laing dances on the show
PA

Last night, Bailey described his win as “surreal”. Bailey looked shocked when he was announced as the year’s winner and said it felt “extraordinary” and “wonderful”.

The comic, whose performance to Rapper’s Delight was one of the stand-out moments of the series, said he could never have imagined getting to the last show.

And he paid tribute to Mabuse, who he called “the most extraordinary teacher, the most extraordinary dancer”.

She “believed in me right from the beginning and she found something in me, turned me into this, into a dancer”, he said.

Singer and social media star HRVY, EastEnders actress Maisie Smith and reality TV star Jamie Laing were also in the final.

Smith and HRVY would have been Strictly’s youngest winners if they had won the public vote.

The nail-biting final began with reference to a “tough day”, after Christmas plans were scrapped for millions.

“If ever people needed cheering up, it’s now,” host Tess Daly told millions of viewers.

Strictly Come Dancing Champions - In pictures

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“After another tough day, we are going to try our very best to keep you entertained with an unforgettable night of dance.”

The BBC’s continuity announcer said Strictly had brought viewers together during difficult months.

“In a year that’s kept us apart, whether you’re watching in Tyne and Wear, Devon, Berkshire or Lincolnshire, we’re all watching BBC One together,” he said.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood, known for his sharp tongue, referenced the Prime Minister’s announcement, following the rapid spread of the new variant coronavirus.

“In light of the recent news, I’ve decided I’m going to be positive. You may not recognise me,” he said.

The Duchess of Cornwall praised Strictly for having “uplifted the nation” when she appeared on the show, in a pre-recorded video clip.

“You have given everybody so much pleasure and you’ve uplifted the nation,” she said.

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