'Cinderella' Bastian wows Strictly judges to waltz away a winner

Published on Friday 25 December 2009 20:10

ALI Bastian was crowned the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas champion last night – beating this year's main competition winner, Chris Hollins, among others.

Actress Bastian was knocked out in the semi-final of this year's main BBC1 contest, leaving Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle and BBC sports presenter Hollins to battle it out. Hollins took home the title after a closely fought battle last week.

But Bastian won the festive special edition, which also featured former contestants Rachel Stevens and TV presenter Gethin Jones.

She performed a Viennese waltz to the Eagles' Please Come Home For Christmas with her professional partner Brian Fortuna, scoring a perfect 40 from the judges and winning over the studio audience.

On winning, Bastian said: "I can't believe it. Thank you very much … This is fantastic."

Describing how it felt to be Christmas champs, Fortuna said: "Awesome, it's Christmas, I'm with Ali, we won the show, beautiful!"

Judge Bruno Tonioli told Bastian: "That was an impeccable Viennese waltz of supreme beauty.

"You're superb, you're a fantastic dancer, technique and artistry all there to be seen. Fabulous."

Fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood said: "I totally agree with all of that actually – stunning, gorgeous and an absolute classic."

Head judge Len Goodman chipped in: "I tell you what, Ali, you are a stocking filler, you are. You're Cinderella, the belle of the ball, absolutely gorgeous."

And Alesha Dixon told the pair they were a "beautiful couple", adding: "I feel like you are keeping romance alive."

Whittle, who had been a favourite to win the main contest, and professional partner Natalie Lowe took to the dancefloor again with a quickstep to Jingle Bells.

Healy and Erin Boag performed a paso doble to Queen classic Bohemian Rhapsody.

Jones and Flavia Cacace showed off their American smooth to Baby It's Cold Outside, while Stevens and Vincent Simone performed a rumba to Miss You Most (At Christmas Time).

Series champion Hollins and Ola Jordan opted for a foxtrot to Santa Baby.