Gorka Marquez has slammed claims that he was a "sore loser" due to his reaction to Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal’s Strictly win.
On Saturday’s live final, some viewers noticed that Marquez, who had made it to the final with presenter Helen Skelton, looked "livid" as he failed to win the Glitterball.
Responding to the accusations that he was angry about losing, he told BBC Radio 5 Live, the Spanish dancer insisted: “I wasn’t fuming but I wanted Helen to finish the season with the cherry on top.
“But I was very happy for Hamza and Jowita – they’ve been amazing.”
He continued: “Whoever won, it was amazing because the three couples have been incredible, but we care and we love our job.”
Skelton also said she and Gorka were “obviously delighted” for Hamza and praised the CBBC star’s “amazing dances through the season”.
She added: “But you could tell how gutted we were. Gorka has had all my stress, all my nerves. "Week one, I hid on the fire escape saying I didn’t want to do it and now we got two standing ovations – that’s our trophy, mate.”
During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, she also said: “The thing is, what I love about Gorka and our friendship is, we’re so honest.
"It’s written all over our faces… If his face had said anything other than, ‘I’m disappointed,’ it would have been a disservice. Bless him, he wanted to win it.”
It is the third time Marquez, who some Twitter users branded a “sore loser” on Saturday, has appeared in the final and not won the Glitterball.
Saturday’s Strictly final saw wildlife cameraman Yassin crowned the show’s 20th winner, beating Helen and fellow finalists Fleur East and Molly Rainford.
