Thirteen weeks ago fans were gearing up to see 15 brand new celebrities and their new dance partners take to the ballroom floor for the first time. And after weeks of sensational moves and mesmerising routines, it's time for the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 final.
The competition started with Helen Skelton, Tony Adams, Tyler West, Ellie Simmonds, Matt Goss, Richie Anderson, Jayde Adams, Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Kaye Adams, Molly Rainford, James Bye, Kym Marsh, Will Mellor and Ellie Taylor.
But on Saturday night, despite all the celebrities and professional dancers returning for one last hurrah, it is just Countryfile host Helen, wildlife cameraman Hamza, Hits Radio his Fleur and CBBC star Molly who will be battling it out to get their hands on the Glitterball trophy.
They'll be taking to the floor with their professional dance partners, and now firm friends, Gorka Marquez, Jowita Przystał, Vito Coppola, and Carlos Gu for the last time and with not one but THREE performances.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2022 final will kick of on Saturday (December 17) at 7.05pm on BBC One. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be back as hosts and the judges - Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anto Du Beke will, of course, be back to cast a watchful eye ofer the couples.
However, who wins is completely in the viewers hands with the judges just offering guidance on who they think pulled out the best final performances of the 20th series. And what the four finalists will be dancing and what to has already been revealed.
After making it through to the final following their fourth time in the dreaded dance-off, singer and radio DJ Fleur and her partner Vito Coppola will perform a samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow as their judges’ pick. Their favourite dance will also be their couple’s choice routine, performed to a Destiny’s Child megamix by Destiny’s Child, which scored a perfect 40 in Blackpool, followed by their show dance to Find Me by Sigma featuring Birdy.
TV presenter Helen and her professional partner Gorka Marquez will perform their jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monae at the request of the judges and have chosen their couple's choice routine to Mein Herr by Liza Minnelli (from Cabaret) as their favourite routine of the series. And finally, their show dance to Shine by Emeli Sande.
CBBC star and singer Molly, 22, and her partner Carlos Gu will perform a quickstep to Love On Top by Beyonce as their judges’ pick, their rumba to All The Man That I Need by Whitney Houston as their favourite and finish with a show dance to a mix of Kiss and 1999 – both by Prince.
And last, but by no means least, Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza, who topped the leader board with his partner Jowita Przystal in the live semi-final on Sunday, has been requested to perform his salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez by the judges.
He will also perform his and Przystal’s couple’s choice to Jerusalema Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode, as well as a show dance to Let’s Face The Music And Dance by Irving Berlin.
As for who is favourite to win, at the time of writing, Hamza was continuing to head the betting at 4/9, but Helen was closing the gap and now finds herself at 7/4. As for the final podium spot, the odds suggest it's Molly Rainford (25/1) who'll finish in third place, with Fleur East being the show's rank outsider at 50/1,
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "It looks like we're in for a two-horse race for the Glitterball Trophy, and while Fleur and Molly are seemingly making up the numbers, it's the latter who is currently most likely to find herself finishing in third-place."
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