Strictly Come Dancing 2017 winner: Joe McFadden beats Debbie McGee to Glitterball trophy
STRICTLY COME DANCING has finally announced the 15th champion of the BBC smash hit.
Strictly: Joe McFadden is crowned Strictly Come Dancing winner
Joe McFadden was named the proud owner of the Glitterball trophy, pipping Debbie McGee, Alexandra Burke and Gemma Atkinson to the post.
The former Holby City actor entered the competition as a relatively wild outsider, but raced into the Strictly Come Dancing final as a firm favourite with bookmakers.
“When you arrived here 13 weeks ago would you ever imagine you'd be taking [the Glitterball trophy] home?” Claudia Winkleman cheered.
“Not in a million years,” gasped the Strictly Come Dancing champion. “It feels completely surreal and I’m so in awe of everyone who started all this weeks ago.
Joe McFadden wins Strictly Come Dancing
It feels completely surreal
“We’ve become such a tight unit and I love them all to bits.”
Praising his fellow finalists, Joe continued: “All of us are winners because we’ve gotten here and I love every single one of them to bits.”
Turning to his partner Katya Jones, the star enthused: “And this woman, this woman is the most amazing woman.
Joe McFadden beat Debbie McGee to the post
Joe McFadden crowned the 15th champion of Strictly Come Dancing
“Thank you so much for sticking with me and persevering and being the most amazing artist and dancer and councillor and slave driver.”
The Russian bombshell couldn’t hold herself together, and cried: “I’m sorry. We did it. We did it!”
Debbie, who was favourite to win throughout the competition put on a brave face and assured that she “loved every minute of it”.
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.