Fans of Strictly Come Dancing were pleased to see 2022 champions Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal back on their screens as the pair sat down for a chat on BBC's The One Show. After 13 weeks, which started with 15 celebrities and their professional dance partners, it was wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza who lifted the coveted Glitterball trophy with professional dance partner Jowita.
The pair tore up the dancefloor in the final in December along with fellow finalists Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez, Fleur East and Vito Coppola and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu. Hamza went into the final as favourite to win and he did following a public vote, despite coming bottom of the judges overall scores on the night.
After being announced as the winner, there was an emotional moment as Hamza told Jowita: "I want to thank one person in particular... Jowita you are an angel disguised as a human being." The Animal Park and Countryfile star continued to say: "Thank you to everyone who voted for me. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
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Each couple had to complete three routines each - a judge's pick, the couple's favourite routine of the series, and a showdance. And after all 12 performances were complete, it was over to viewers to choose their winners.
As they were interviewed on The One Show by Jermaine Jenas and Lauren Laverne, Hamza humbly revealed a backstage ritual he carried out each week as they prepared to take to the dancefloor and he steeled himself for elimination from the very start. He explained: "I say this all the time with Jowita. I thought I was going out on week two which is the first time someone that can go out.
The 32-year-old recalled: "Every week we had this thing where I hold her thumb and I lean in and say to her 'thank you very much, it's been a great journey, I'm ready for the dance off and here we go.'" But Jowita, 28, said her own ritual was to assure: "It's not over yet."
Praising his co-star he said: "I didn't think I could dance. You were fantastic at just bringing everything out. I still can't fathom that we won it."
But in return show newcomer Jowita, who made history as first female pro dancer to win in her first series of Strictly, said she knew from the moment she met Hamza that he would succeed. "I knew straight away. I felt in bones that he would be great," she said. "I was already picturing it. I was driven by him. He was my drive."
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