Actress Ellie Leach has been crowned the champion of Strictly Come Dancing 2023, alongside partner Vito Coppola. Despite coming in second place with the judges’ indicative scores, Ellie and Vito won the public vote, making them the 21st winners of the show since its inception in 2004.
Back in September, the cast of 15 celebrities including presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Paralympian Jody Cundy and comedian Les Dennis united for the latest series, being eliminated week by week until only the three finalists (Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin, and Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell) remained. With various themed weeks including Halloween, movies and musicals, this year’s competition was fiercer than ever, with the final featuring the youngest finalists ever in Strictly history!
Tonight’s live final saw the couples take on three dances apiece, alongside interludes from the professional dancers and a performance from Cher. Their performances tonight left all three couples within 4 points of each other, although these scores from judges Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood were only illustrative.
Ellie and Vito’s performance this series has been widely praised by both the other couples, judges and the wider public, and saw them receive the most votes to become this series’ champions. With some of their favourite dances from the season returning for one final outing, Ellie and Vito took the competition, and nation, by storm and have lifted the glitterball trophy!
All episodes of Strictly Come Dancing are available now on BBC iPlayer. Strictly Come Dancing will return for their Christmas special, airing on Christmas Day
