Strictly Come Dancing’s 2023 final kicked off in incredible style on Saturday with a showstopping group routine.
And viewers were left in ‘floods’ of tears as professional dancer Amy Dowden made her surprise return to the floor amid her cancer battle.
Amy, who has been forced to sit out the latest series, looked sensational as she barely went without her wig after losing her hair due to chemotherapy.
This year’s final sees Bobby Brazier, Ellie Leach and Layton Williams battle it out for the coveted glitterball trophy.
Each celebrity and their professional dance partners will have to dance three times; their favourite dance from the series, a show dance and judges’ pick.
EastEnders actor Bobby, 20, and Dianne Buswell, 34, are set to dance their Couple’s Choice to This Woman’s Work by Maxwell.
Strictly Come Dancing’s 2023 final kicked off in incredible style on Saturday with a showstopping group routine
The lyrical dance is a tribute to Bobby’s mother who died in 2007 aged 27 after a short battle with cervical cancer.
Their show dance will be to La La La Land Medley while the judges have asked them to perform their Samba to Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton.
As for Ellie, 22, and Vito, 31, they will do their show dance to Jennifer Lopez Megamix, judges’ pick Paso Doble to Insomnia by 2WEI, and their favourite routine which is the American Smooth to Ain’t That A Kick In The Head by Robbie Williams.
Layton, 29, and Nikita, 25, will showdance to Friend Like Me by Ne-Yo, do the judges’ pick which is their Quickstep to Puttin’ On The Ritz by Gregory Porter and perform their favourite dance, the Tango to Tattoo by Loreen.
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 kicked off in September, hosted once again by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman with the return of judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas.
The 15 celebrities taking to the dance floor this year were revealed to be Bobby Brazier, Annabel Croft, Les Dennis, Angela Rippon, Nigel Harman, Zara McDermott, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Amanda Abbington, Ellie Leach, Angela Scanlon, Nikita Kanda, Adam Thomas, Eddie Kadi, Jody Cundy and Layton Williams.
Professional dancers Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Vito Coppola, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Lauren Oakley, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Michelle Tsiakkas, Kai Widdrington, and Nancy Xu also returned.
Star Amy Dowden sadly was unable to take part, after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in the year, but was able to make several cameos during the series.
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2023: THE CONTESTANTS’ PROFILES
Layton Williams
Age: 28
Profession: Actor
Layton says: ‘Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in THE most iconic dance competition in the UK! It’s time to bring it to the Ballroom. So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!’
Ellie Leach
Age: 22
Profession: Coronation Street star
Ellie says: ‘It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be doing Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!’
Bobby Brazier
Age: 20
Profession: EastEnders star and model
Bobby says: ‘I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly line up, I can’t wait to start training like a professional dancer and adding a few moves to my locker. I’m looking forward to performing in-front of everyone.’
