Strictly Come Dancing final 2022: Hamza Yassin and Jowita Pryzstal are crowned the WINNERS

Hamza Yassin and Jowita Pryzstal were crowned the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2022  on Saturday night.

The wildlife cameraman, 32, fought off stiff competition from fellow competitors Fleur East, Helen Skelton and Molly Rainford as he was announced as the champion by hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Hamza and Jowita’s victory comes despite the pair landing at the bottom of the leaderboard, no thanks to their Showdance which was earlier branded ‘underwhelming’ by Craig Revel Horwood. 

Speaking after his win, an emotional Hamza said: ‘Words can’t describe how I feel. I want to thank one person in particular – Jowita, you are an angel disguised as a human being. That’s what you are, you’re amazing.

‘Thank you to everyone out there for voting for us. This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’

He went on to share the inspiring words a choreographer once said to him, with Hamza stating: ‘One, surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you come in. 

‘Two, the top of one mountain is the bottom of another so keep climbing. And three, slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be.’

While Jowita shared: ‘Anything is possible and he is just the proof that anything is possible. He came here on the show with no dancing experience, with pigeon toes! And he made it. He worked hard and he made it, and I’m so proud of you.’ 

She added: ‘I would love to thank everybody, you are amazing.’ 

Earlier in the show, things got very emotional for Hamza Yassin as he finally bagged his first perfect score for his and Jowita Pryzstal’s final dance of the season – his very first 40 score.

For their final dance of the night, Hamza and Jowita performed their couple’s choice dance of to Jerusalema – Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode.

And after their disappointing Showdance, the two were determined to end their Strictly experience with a bang.

And they did just that as they had everyone on their feet with their thrilling routine, with things getting a little teary during the comments as they judges praised his amazing progress. 

Shirley told the couple: ‘Take a moment, take it in, you are what I call the true competitor… We are going to miss you, you are a star in your own right. Jowita, you are just beautiful. What a wonderful partnership.’

While Anton fought back tears as he said: ‘I get a little emotional watching you dance because it’s like the clouds part and the sun comes out. I’ve watched a lot of people dance in my life and I’ve found a lot of joy in watching you.’

Craig then brought out his humorous side as he told Hamza: ‘You’re everything I’m not. You spread joy to everyone.’

While Motsi added: ‘I’m going to try in the final not to cry but you broke me… You spread joy, you made us forget just for a millisecond. What ever happens tonight I want to thank you for that joy.’

It comes after the Showdance didn’t quite go to plan as after taking to the floor with their Quickstep routine to Let’s Face The Music And Dance by Irving Berlin, the pair struggled to pull off a flawless performance as they made a few mistakes.

Commenting on the dance, Shirley said: ‘It was the first time that I saw a little panic. It went wrong and it just took a few seconds, which I know felt for you like a lifetime, to get going. I applaud you for that high lift at the end which is really hard. There were a few mistakes which was unfortunate but you are a beautiful dancer.’ 

While Anton was slightly more optimistic as he praised their transitions into lifts, telling them: ‘Jowita never looked under any pressure at all… you are brilliant, well done.’ 

Craig was straightforward with his response, telling him: ‘I thought it was a little bit rocky and underwhelming if I’m honest. It did go a little bit wrong which took you off balance. It was classy and classic like yourself.’

While Motsi said: There is a lot of pressure in the final, you did choose one of the most difficult dances to dance. Most importantly you showed us you are a human, you made a mistake and you went on. The most important thing is did you touch us, did you move us, did you bring us joy and you most certainly did.’

Meanwhile, Hamza and Jowita’s first dance of the night proved somewhat ore successful, with the pair leaving both the judges and viewers thrilled as they performed their sizzling Salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez once again.

Shirley 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 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 said he did the dance brilliantly, praising Hamza’s ‘armography’ and the ‘smooth as silk’ performance. 

Motsi meanwhile added that the first time they danced 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!’

Hamza and Jowita bagged a credible 39 points for their first dance. 

Elsewhere, despite not winning the trophy, it was a great night for Fleur East and Vito Coppola as they bagged not one but two perfect score of 40 points on the night with their Samba and Couple’s choice routine

First up, after wowing everyone initially with the dance the first time around, Fleur and Vito were determined to impress once again on the big night with their opening performance of a Samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow.

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 in the amount of time they had. He added: ‘It was the best Samba we’ve ever seen on Strictly!’

Next up, the pair turned up the heat with their very impressive Showdance to Find Me by Sigma featuring Birdy.

And Craig certainly liked what he saw as he remarked: ‘It was striking and bold, it was definitely something you want to see in a Showdance.’

Motsi said: ‘This time I feel like you showcased your power… I can see that you’re an active type of woman, you make it happen. No matter what happens today, you are a Queen.’

With Anton gushing: ‘It was intense, it was dynamic, it was strong… The thing I’m most impressed with is your skill as a dancer… I now see complete performances in front of me… you are a very, very good dancer. Well done.’

The duo scored 39 out of 40 points for this dance.

Their final routine was a fan favourite, their couple’s choice dance to a Destiny’s Child Megamix which had initially bagged them their first ever 40 points.

And history certainly repeated itself for Fleur and Vito certainly as they once again earned themselves 40 points with the routine – their second perfect score of the night. 

Craig said: ‘You gave Vito a run for his money… It was absolutely phenomenal.’

Shirley told the pair: ‘It’s absolutely pure magic, not just only to watch Fleur but to watch you as a team… Fleur you have been a marvellous student because you fought back week after week… Thank you for the hard work, thank you for the memories.’

While Anton said: ‘I wish I had a 12 paddle. There’s nothing to say, everything has been said. In 10 years time we’re still going to be talking about that dance.’

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.

Commenting on the dance, Craig said: ‘There is a marked improvement. I can see you’ve been working really, really hard. I absolutely loved it.’ 

‘This is what quality looks like. Well done you!’ enthused Motsi, while Shirley remarked: ‘‘Molly you’ve really taken instruction well… for me that was absolutely superb, well done.’

The couple bagged three 10s and a 9, giving them an overall score for their first dance of 39 points. 

In their second dance, the Showdance, the pair turned up the heat as the performed a sultry routine to Kiss/1999 by Prince.

Giving his comments, Anton said: ‘It was the attitude, it was the you, I haven’t seen that before. That was tremendous, edgier, a little darker. Sold!’

Craig said: ‘It suddenly went into a world that was a little bit too cutesy for me. I wanted to see fierce. You danced it very well, don’t get me wrong.’

Motsi told the pair: ‘I feel you have matured so much in this competition. With this commercial type of styling, you represented your own generation and you were so powerful with that.’

With Shirley adding: ‘There were one or two tiny things that were out of sync but this number was a change from everything that we have seen in the series from you and, Molly, you were wonderful.’

Craig awarded the Molly and Carlos an eight while Motsi gave them 10, Shirley award a nine while Anton awarded a 10. They achieved 37 out of 40.

Finally, the duo revisited their Rumba to Rumba to All The Man That I Need by Whitney Houston for their last bid for the trophy. 

The sizzling routine was perfectly sooth and sensual, with the judges picking up on Molly’s composure, with Craig saying: ‘It was so controlled and measured, I really loved it. Fantastic.’

Motsi added: ‘This was class and I want to repeat what Anton says, what you learn on this show, you are going to take on, and I know one day we will be looking and we will say, “Look at that girl, she started on Strictly.”‘

While Shirley concluded: ‘You fully deserved your place in the final today. You also chose the Rolls Royce of the Latin dances which is extremely difficult to dance… She was absolutely smack bang on her feet and I loved it.’

Finally, Helen and Gorka set out to wow with their first dance, performing a Jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monáe.

Giving her verdict, Motsi said: ‘This routine is all about detail. Every movement, you got this under control. You were fabulous.’

While Shirley added: ‘I can tell that you are so comfortable in your own skin, what a huge improvement. No missteps at all but what you gained this time was your attitude… you absolutely deserve everything you get, well done.’

Praising the performance, Anton shared: ‘You had both styles of the Jive there and you did them both with great smoothness. I loved it.’ 

Craig garnered a few boos as he then told them: ‘It could have done with a little bit more attraction. It was clean, it was precise and you danced it brilliantly.’

Next up, the couple dazzled with their Showdance to Shine by Emeli Sandé, from which they scored 37 out of a possible 40.

After watching them glide across the dancefloor, an impressed Motsi said: ‘You were shining from the outfit to that smile. I could see the joy in your dancing, I could see you really opening your heart out and I enjoyed that.’

Shirley agreed with her co-star, telling Helen: ‘I could really see you enjoyed it, it was light, it was bright and it said, “I have set myself free.”‘

While Anton told the mum-of-three: ‘I am absolutely thrilled that you were able to do that dance because I want you to celebrate you.’

Finally, the couple ended the night with their charismatic Couple’s Choice to Mein Herr by Liza Minnelli (from Cabaret), and what an end to the night as the pair bagged 40 points.

‘What a night, what a final, what a dance. Helen you closed the show, girl. That was amazing’ enthused Motsi of the thrilling performance.

A very pleased Shirley told them: ‘It was polished, it was clean, it was everything we need for a final dance.’

Anton said: ‘You want it to go well, you’ve got three dances, you want them all to go well. If you want a good one, make it last one. The reaction in the room! This is the reaction we live for… You, my love, are a performer and what a performer you are.’

While Craig concluded: ‘That was a dance that should win a final. That was incredible.’

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. 

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 

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.’ 

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.’