Hamza Yassin wins Strictly Come Dancing final 2022

Wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin and his professional partner Jowita Przystal have won the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among the first to congratulate Yassin, who lives in Ardnamurchan, on Twitter.

The 32-year-old wildlife cameraman and presenter beat three other couples – Fleur East and Vito Coppola, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, and Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez – to lift the glitterball trophy on Saturday.

An emotional Yassin said: “It’s hard to describe how I feel…Jowita you are an angel disguised as a human being.”

Jowita Przystal and Hamza Yassin perform

Przystal said he came into the show with “pigeon toes” and she was honoured to help him win.

During the last show of the series, all couples had to perform a routine chosen by the judges, their own favourite dance and finally a show dance.

After the three advisory scores were given by the judges, East and Coppola were top of the leaderboard with 119 points, with Skelton and Marquez coming second on 116 points.

Rainford and Gu received a total of 115 points, and Yassin and Przystal came bottom on 113 points.

But the public vote ultimately decided who lifted the coveted glitterball trophy for 2022.

Yassin faced a tough final with Przystal as they were criticised for mistakes in their second dance, Let’s Face The Music And Dance by Irving Berlin.

He was tearful as head judge Shirley Ballas said: “Well it was the first time…I saw a little panic, it went wrong… What I applaud is you were able to hit that high lift in the end.”

But he recovered in his final dance of couple’s choice to Jerusalema Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode, and received a standing ovation from Ballas.

Anton Du Beke said: “I get really emotional watching you dance because it’s like the clouds part when you come onto the floor and the sun comes out. You bring a smile to everyone’s face.”

Yassin also earned his first perfect score on his last dance of the competition.

His performance of the judges’ pick routine, a salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez, also won him praise and standing ovations from Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.

Ballas said: “Your lifts went higher, your turns were spot on… I thought you were fantastic.”

TV presenter Skelton and her partner Marquez wrapped up the competition with their dance to Mein Herr by Liza Minnelli (from Cabaret), earning them their only 40 points of the night.

They got standing ovations from judges Ballas and Mabuse – and shouts of “Helen, Helen” from the crowd.

Du Beke said: “This reaction is what we live for as performers.”

Their show dance to Shine by Emeli Sande and jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monae at the request of the judges also got high scores.

Singer and radio DJ East, 35, received widespread praise from the judges for all of her performances, with two perfect scores for her samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow, the judges’ pick, and her couple’s choice to Destiny’s Child megamix.

Craig Revel Horwood said: “I’m furious actually because I couldn’t find anything wrong with it.”

Mabuse said: “Here is your queen, come and fetch her.”

Presenter and singer Rainford was seen as one of the most improved by the judges for her quickstep to Love On Top by Beyonce as her judges’ pick, rumba to All The Man That I Need by Whitney Houston as her favourite and show dance to a mix of Kiss and 1999 – both by Prince.

When she danced to Houston, Mabuse said: “(That) was class… and I know one day we will be looking (at you in the future) and we will be like ‘we know that girl, she started on Strictly, look at the superstar.’ It’s coming for you, don’t wait.”

Over the course of the competition, each of the finalists topped the Strictly leaderboard at some point – Yassin five times, East and Skelton twice and Rainford once.

East and Rainford found themselves having to fight for their place to stay in the dance-off four times each, while Skelton and Yassin avoided that fate during the whole series.

The final also saw performances from Florence And The Machine and the Strictly 2022 competitors who lost out on a place in the final.

Last year’s competition saw Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice crowned the winners.

The residents of Yassin’s home village, Kilchoan, gathered in the local community centre to watch the final.

For weeks, residents have met here for the Saturday night extravaganza, often sporting sparkly outfits and armed with drinks, home baking and snacks to enjoy as the show unfolds on the community-owned projector. Tonight, the dress code in Kilchoan is strictly sequins with a bar set up for the occasion.

"If he wins, we’ll probably blow the roof of the hall off. I don’t know if they have got Champagne in but hopefully there will be some sort of bubbly on ice,” said Gayle Richardson, 47, before the show, a good friend and neighbour of the wildlife cameraman who has charmed the nation with his modesty, kind nature and, crucially, his natural dancing ability.

Ms Richardson said: “We cannot wait for tonight and the atmosphere in the hall over the past few weeks has been brilliant. Everyone turns up in something sparkly and it is bring your own bottle. It is a really warm and cosy night for everyone. The kids have got Hamza t-shirts and we have banners made up. It’s great, great fun and it is lovely to watch it together.”

Most weeks, 60 or 70 people have attended the Strictly screenings although tonight it is expected more may make the trip to the hall, weather allowing.