EastEnders star jives to a ‘sharp and tasty’ win on the Strictly dancefloor

EASTENDERS star Charlie Brooks waltzed off with victory in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.

The twinkle-toed star – who plays villainess Janine Butcher – even managed to impress hard-to-please judge Craig Revel Horwood last night.

She and partner Vincent Simone dominated the dancefloor with a festive jive in the one-off edition of the BBC1 show, beating boxer Barry McGuigan, comedy actress Debra Stephenson, Blue’s Simon Webbe and former Hi-De-Hi star Su Pollard.

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Members of the studio audience voted for her dance as their top choice in the show hosted by regular presenters Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly.

Brooks paid tribute to her partner, Simone: “I’ve absolutely loved it, I’ve had such a brilliant time, he has been amazing,” she said. “I’ve made such a good friend here.”

She said her daughter Kiki would be thrilled by her win. “My little girl is going to be so happy,” Brooks added.

Horwood said: “One word, three syllables, darlings, starting with F. Fab-u-lous.”

Fellow judge Len Goodman described her dance as “sharp and tasty, like a pickled walnut with a bit of cheese for supper on Christmas night”.