Strictly Come Dancing FINAL 2022: Fleur East and Vito Coppola bag a PERFECT score of 40 points with their first dance of the night as they impress with their sizzling Samba – as Hamza, Molly and Helen close the gap with 39 points
The Strictly Come Dancing 2022 final got off to a dazzling start on Saturday as Hamza Yassin, Helen Skelton, Fleur East and Molly Rainford battled it out to be crowned the champion.
And Fleur East and Vito Coppola was on fine form on the night as they bagged a perfect score of 40 points for their sizzling Samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow.
Meanwhile, her competitors Hamza, Molly and Helen came close to getting the perfect score with their first dance of the evening, with the competitors bagging an impressive 39 points each.
Amazing: Fleur East and Vito Coppola was on fine form on the night as they bagged a perfect score of 40 points for their sizzling Samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow
After wowing everyone initially with the dance the first time around, Fleur and Vito were determined to impress once again on the big night.
And they certainly did just that as judge Craig Revel Horwood remarked: ‘I’m furious actually because I couldn’t find anything wrong with it!’
Motsi Mabuse was in agreement as she hailed Fleur as the Samba Queen and said she’d become ‘stronger’ in the competition, telling the X Factor star that they ‘smashed the dance’.
An enthusiastic Shirley Ballas remarked: ‘I said after week eight, you’ve mastered your craft’, telling Fleur that she didn’t have a paddle ‘high enough’ to score her.
While Anton Du Beke said it was ‘better’ the second time around and was ‘stunned’ they they perfected it it in the amount of time they had. He added: ‘It was the best Samba we’ve ever seen on Strictly!’
Hamza left both the judges and viewers thrilled as he and partner Jowita Pryzstal performed their sizzling Salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez once again.
You go guys: After wowing everyone initially with the dance the first time around, Fleur and Vito were determined to impress once again on the big night
Thrilled: They certainly did just that as judge Craig Revel Horwood remarked: ‘I’m furious actually because I couldn’t find anything wrong with it!’
Head judge Shirley Ballas kicked off the comments, telling the couple: ‘I feel so overwhelmed and emotional, what a way to open the final 2022. Said he improved it and thanked them for their hard work.
While Anton Du Beke told them he laughs with joy when he watches Hamza dance, saying that there was a ‘freedom’ to the dance that there wasn’t before, adding: ‘You are joyous!’
Craig Revel Horwood, said he did the dance brilliantly, praising Hamza’s ‘armography’ and the ‘smooth as silk’ performance.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2022 final: Both Hamza and Molly came close to getting the perfect score with their first dance of the evening, with the competitors bagging an impressive 39 points each
Great job: Molly and Carlos kicked off their bid to win the competition as they once again performed their Quickstep to Love On Top by Beyoncé at the request of the judges
Motsi Mabuse meanwhile added that the first tie they dances this, everyone didn’t know what was coming and said that while watching it the second time, they questioned if it will have the same effect, with Motsi concluding: ‘ ‘I love it more!’. She added: ‘ It’s like you’re watching music on the dancefloor in your body.
Saturday night’s final sees the four remaining contestants take on three routines each.
With Will Mellor and Nancy Xu having narrowly missed out on a place in the grand final, Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Helen Skelton and Molly Rainford will battle it out alongside their partners to lift that coveted glitterball trophy.
And they’ve certainly got their work cut out as they’ve not only got the judges’ picks and their favourite dances of the series to perform, but their epic showdances too.
As per usual, the judges will be able to score the performances, but their score won’t count in the final.
Exciting! The Strictly Come dancing 2022 final songs and dances have been revealed, with the remaining four couples set to take on three routines each (Hamza and Jowita pictured)
Instead, it will be the viewers votes that will determine the winner, so the contestants will no doubt be pulling out all the stops to impress.
Viewers will be in for a treat and they’ll get the chance to have another look at some memorable performances from this year’s series including Hamza and Jowita’s incredible Salsa to the song Ecuador.
While fans will get to relive Fleur and Vito’s ‘Hot hot hot’ Samba’ and Helen and Gorka’s toe-taping Jive to Tightrope.
Fab four: Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Helen Skelton and Molly Rainford (pictured with Carlos Gu) will battle it out alongside their partners to lift that covered glitterball trophy
And while three of the four couple’s will be performing their Couple’s Choice dances as their favourite routines, Molly and Carlos will perform their Rumba to All The Man That I Need once again.
Ahead of the grand final, Helen closed the gap on bookies favourite Hamza as she was given a huge boost in the odds.
The TV presenter was given odds of 7/4 to lift the glitterball trophy, closing the gap on the wildlife cameraman who was still in front with 1/2.
Performances: They’ve certainly got their work cut out as they’ve not only got the judges’ picks and their favourite dances of the series to perform, but their epic showdances too (pictured Fleur and Vito)
Show time: It will be the viewers votes that will determine the winner, so the contestants will no doubt be pulling out all the stops to impress
Elsewhere, it appears that both Molly and Fleur will have to dig deep to be crowned champion, with the CBeebies star tipped at 40/1, while the former X Factor favourite has odds of 66/1.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Hamza has led the betting for months, but the latest odds suggest he could just be pipped to the post by Helen this weekend
Everything you need to know about the Strictly Come Dancing Final
We’ve enlisted the help of ex-contestants AJ and Curtis Pritchard, and Ann Widdicombe to share their Strictly wisdom before the big night.
It comes as Shirley Ballas has admitted sending home ‘superstar’ Will Mellor during the last week’s Strictly Come Dancing semi finals was tough.
Speaking on Friday’s This Morning the head judge, 62, said that it’s usually very clear who she should be sending home, however last week she struggled.
Will, 46, and Nancy, 31, were the latest to be axed from the Strictly dancefloor after going head-to-head against singer Fleur East, 35, and her professional partner Vito Coppola, 30, in the dance off.
Host Alison Hammond, 47, and Dermot O’Leary, 49, failed to get the dancing queen to make any predictions about Saturday’s show, except saying it would be one of the ‘strongest ever’ finals.
Shirley explained: ‘Normally when I have to send somebody home, I’m very clear and it’s very obvious when I have to send somebody home. But I have to say, this last week sending somebody home was very very difficult’.
She continued: ‘I thought the judges were going to agree on somebody and they didn’t, and it was it was left to me. It was very very difficult because [the contestants] have all tried so hard.’
Booted: Will and Nancy were the latest to be axed from the Strictly dance floor after going head-to-head against singer Fleur East, 35, and her professional partner Vito Coppola, 30, in the dance off
With Fleur, Helen Skelton, Hamza Yassin and Molly Rainford in the final, Shirley went on to describe actor Will as a ‘superstar in his own right’.
The judge explained the judging process and what she will be keeping an eye out for on Saturday evening: ‘It is really small details and you know, you look at both couples and it becomes a preference at the end of the day’.
She continued: ‘I’m weighing up these mistakes against these mistakes, these synchronicities against this… I have a whole list of things that perhaps the general public don’t see to come to my conclusion, which is never easy to do.’
Former X Factor host Dermot then asked if someone who wasn’t necessarily the best dancer but with ‘pizzaz’ may win – just like the ITV singing competition.
Shirley said: ‘Going into the final, it’ll be down to the general public but I have full faith that they will pick the right winner’.
‘Everybody who’s made the final is a winner in their own right, I wouldn’t like to call it. The audience at home will have a voice and speak.’
Honest: Speaking on Friday’s This Morning the head judge, 62, said that it’s usually very clear who she should be sending home, however last week she struggled
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2022: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
KYM MARSH
Age: 46
Profession: Coronation Street star and presenter
Kym says: ‘I’m so delighted that this year they have! I’m a huge fan of the show and can’t believe I’m going to go from watching at home in my pyjamas to actually dancing in front of the judges in a glittery dress.’
ELLIE SIMMONDS
Age: 27
Profession: Former athlete
Ellie says: ‘To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it’s going to so much fun.’
TYLER WEST
Age: 26
Profession: Radio DJ
Tyler says: ‘It’s a show that means so much to me and my family and I can’t wait to seriously shake a leg on that shiny dance floor… with a side of sequins.’
ELLIE TAYLOR
Age: 38
Profession: Comedian
Ellie says: ‘Well, cover me in fake tan and roll me in sequins! I’m absolutely over the moon to be a part of Strictly 2022!’
TONY ADAMS MBE
Age: 55
Profession: Retired footballer and manager
Tony says: ‘To say I’m excited is an understatement – the lure of the sequins and the call of the salsa has me swapping my battered old football boots for a set of Strictly soft shoes’
WILL MELLOR
Age: 46
Profession: Actor
Will says: ‘I know it will be a huge challenge but that’s what life is all about. This is also my Mum’s favourite show and she’s had a really tough few years so I’m doing this is for her as well. Bring it on!’
MOLLY RAINFORD
Age: 21
Profession: Singer
Molly says: ‘I already know it’s gonna be an experience of a lifetime and I can’t wait to meet the rest of the Strictly family I’ll be sharing it with.’
FLEUR EAST
Age: 34
Profession: Singer
Fleur says: ‘I’m equally nervous and thrilled to be part of this year’s Strictly line up. I’m excited to learn new skills and I want to soak up every moment of this magical experience.’
HAMZA YASSIN
Age: 35
Profession: Wildlife cameraman and presenter
Hamza says: ‘I am absolutely over the moon to be joining Strictly 2022. Never in a million years did I think I’d be on such a cool show.’
HELEN SKELTON
Age: 39
Profession: TV and radio broadcaster
Helen says: ‘I’m really excited to get stuck into a fun adventure. My family and friends have always loved the show and can’t wait for me to get started’
Source: Read Full Article