The final of Strictly Come Dancing is taking place as three couples have their eye on the famous Glitterball Trophy.
Greater Manchester's own Ellie Leach and Layton Williams are joined by Bobby Brazier as the celebrities take to the dancefloor for a final time with their partners.
Each couple will perform three routines in the two-hour show on BBC One on Saturday night - a routine chosen by the judges, their own favourite dance and finally a show dance.
READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing Final: Layton Williams' mum reveals how he went from the Dicky Bird estate to the top
READ MORE: Read more of today's top stories from the Manchester Evening News
Former Corrie star Ellie, who is partnered with Vito Coppola is currently the bookies’ favourite to lift the trophy, with Coral bookmakers giving her 1-10 odds.
They have chosen their American smooth to Ain’t That A Kick In The Head by Robbie Williams as their favourite dance and will also perform their dramatic paso doble to Insomnia by 2WEI again with their show dance set to be a Jennifer Lopez megamix.
Bad Education actor Layton, who is partned with Nikita Kuzmin is second favourite at 8-1. They have picked their Argentine tango to Tattoo by Loreen as their favourite dance and the judges have also selected for them to revisit their quickstep to Puttin’ On The Ritz by Gregory Porter from week two. Their show dance will be to Friend Like Me by Ne-Yo.
EastEnders’ actor Bobby, who is dancing with Dianne Buswell, is 12-1 to win. They will reprise their emotional couple’s choice routine which was dedicated to Brazier’s late mother Jade Goody, who died in 2009 aged 27 with cervical cancer.
The pair will also return to their samba to Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton, which the judges’ have picked for them, while their show dance will be a La La Land medley.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Follow the latest updates here...
Key Events
Ellie Leach wins Strictly Come Dancing
Simon Coyle
Fans react to Ellie being crowned winner
Strictly fans were quick to flock to social media and comment on Ellie's win. @michaelp93 said: "The perfect ending to an incredible final. Thrilled for Ellie and Vito, the most consistent couple and deserved winners! #Strictly #StrictlyFinal."
@AndrewJazzie commented: "Ellie and Vito. Absolutely deserved. You have been incredible #StrictlyFinal #strictly." @SophieSharpie praised: "I'm so so happy that Ellie and Vito won! Amazing chemistry, fantastic moves and lovely people. Hope they have many happy years as a couple too. #StrictlyFinal #strictly #StrictlyComeDancing."
@bosdovja92 shared: "ELLIE AND VITO!!! YESSSSS THE PUBLIC MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE!!! Now get married you two, you beautiful pair!!! #strictly." @mr_sjpatterson posted: "Absolutely not sobbing. What a beautiful result to a beautiful series. Ellie and Vito have been on such a journey and they deserve this so much. What a special moment #Strictly." @aandersonn26 added: "YESSSSSS!!!! ELLIE AND VITO ARE THE WINNERS. THEY HAVE BEEN WINNERS SINCE DAY ONE. WELL DONE TO ALL 3 FINALISTS WHAT A FINAL #strictly."
KEY EVENT
Ellie Leach wins Strictly Come Dancing
Soap star Ellie Leach, 22, has become the youngest winner of Strictly Come Dancing with her professional partner Vito Coppola.
Simon Coyle
Les Dennis lifted onto dance floor on giant glittery anchor
Former Family Fortunes host Les Dennis was lifted onto the Strictly dance floor via a giant glittery anchor for the series’ final group performance.
Elsewhere, broadcaster Angela Rippon showed off one of her famous high leg kicks while the rest of the Strictly professionals and celebrities danced in the background.
Simon Coyle
Layton: Winning would be a celebration of everybody that is different
Layton Williams said that if he wins Strictly Come Dancing, it will be a “celebration of everybody that is different”.
The stage and screen star spoke following his last performance on the BBC One dance show with his professional partner Nikita Kuzmin.
Asked what winning would mean to him, the 29-year-old said: “I think if we won it would be a massive celebration of everybody that is different, anybody that feels like they didn’t fit in – and this would be a celebration of them people and to say you can use your difference as your superpower.”
The couple were awarded full marks from the judges for their Argentine tango to Tattoo by Loreen, which they chose to perform as their favourite dance.
Simon Coyle
Bobby last dance described as “extraordinarily beautiful”
Bobby Brazier’s last dance on Strictly was described as “beautiful” after he performed a routine dedicated to his late mother Jade Goody, who died of cervical cancer in 2009.
The dance, which Brazier has performed on the show once before, left his partner Dianne Buswell in tears, as well as his father Jeff Brazier – who was sitting in the audience.
Head judge Shirley Ballas told the EastEnders star: “Loss is such a personal thing and I know you were a young boy when that happened, but it’s forever here in your heart.”
Ballas said the dance was “extraordinarily beautiful” and the pair were awarded 39 points from the judges.
Simon Coyle
Anton Du Beke emotional after Ellie's last dance
Anton Du Beke said he was getting emotional as he told Ellie Leach he was “proud” of her on Strictly Come Dancing.
The soap star, 22, and her professional dance partner Vito Coppola chose to perform the American smooth as their last routine during the show’s final.
After dancing to the song Ain’t That A Kick In The Head in the style of Robbie Williams, the couple were awarded 40 points.
Du Beke said: “Why am I getting emotional? I can’t help myself.”
He added: “The joy of sitting here, I get to watch you and follow you and try and encourage you and everybody else here – and nothing makes me more proud than to see you pull this off in a mature, wonderful way.”
Simon Coyle
Layton 'showing off' with his second dance of the night
Layton Williams was told he was “showing off” after he performed his second dance of the night during the Strictly live final.
The Bad Education star, 29, performed a show dance to Friend Like Me in the style of Ne-Yo with his professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin.
Speaking about his dance, judge Anton Du Beke told Williams: “It’s sort of ridiculous, to be honest with you, it’s showing off.”
The couple were awarded 39 points by the judges.
Thanking his supporters after his dance, Williams said: “When I joined this competition I was warned a lot and I thought a lot that I would really (be) having to fight for my place here every single week.
“And I… I’m so grateful to everyone that’s picked up a phone and voted for us.”
Simon Coyle
Ellie praised for taking risk
Ellie Leach was praised for taking a “risk” with a lift during the Strictly final.
The TV star performed her second dance, a show dance to a Jennifer Lopez megamix, alongside her dance partner Vito Coppola.
Craig Revel Horwood told Leach: “It’s a terrible shame with the last lift because really that whole dance routine was just flawless up until that moment.
“That’s the sort of beauty of live television, I think, and proving that taking a risk can or can’t work out for you.”
The couple were awarded 36 points from the judges.
Simon Coyle
Full marks for Layton
Layton Williams was awarded full marks after he performed his first dance of the night during the Strictly Come Dancing final.
The 29-year-old stage and screen star and his professional dance partner, Nikita Kuzmin, revisited their quickstep to Puttin’ On The Ritz, as chosen for them by the judges.
The couple received the first full marks of the night and the judges discussed the improvements Williams had made since he first performed the routine in week two of the competition.
Anton Du Beke said: “We chose this dance because we wanted you to improve it, you’ve improved it out of sight.”
Simon Coyle
Bobby Brazier called the “king of Latin ballroom”
Bobby Brazier was called the “king of Latin ballroom” following his first dance on the Strictly Come Dancing final.
The 20-year-old soap star performed a samba to Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton with his professional partner Dianne Buswell, as chosen for them by the judges.
Speaking about the dance, judge Craig Revel Horwood told Brazier “I saw a vast improvement”, adding: “Those hips were hip-tastic.”
Elsewhere, head judge Shirley Ballas said she had given him the title “king of Latin” and added that he danced from his “heart”.
The couple were awarded 39 points by the judges.
Jessica Sansome
Ellie and Vito's first dance scores
Ellie Leach was awarded 39 points from the judges after she performed her first dance during the Strictly Come Dancing final.
The 22-year-old TV star performed a dramatic paso doble to Insomnia by 2WEI with her dance partner Vito Coppola, as chosen for them by the judges.
After their performance, head judge Shirley Ballas said: “You, my dear, are the only lady standing and let me tell you, you came down those stairs, you worked that dress, the whole ensemble… was spot on.
“I have to say, that was a woman in control.”
Anton Du Beke added “I love this” and Craig Revel Horwood said “it was absolutely fantastic”.
Jessica Sansome
First dance of the night
Ellie and Vito are first up with their judge's pick dance
Jessica Sansome
Here we go...
It's Strictly Come Dancing 2023 final time!
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are now in the ballroom after an epic opening routine from the show's professional dancers
