Len Goodman bids goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing as winner is crowned
It was his final show
Television presenter Ore Oduba and dance partner Joanne Clifton have been crowned Strictly Come Dancing champions 2016, fighting off tough competition from actor Danny Mac and former pop star Louise Redknapp. However it was an occasion tinged with sadness as head judge Len Goodman bid farewell to the show.
Judge Len Goodman said “I’ll miss just turning up and the anticipation of what is going to occur, I will miss what I consider the three best judges on television, being close to the band and the fabulous singers. I think the whole thing is like a big machine with cogs.
Every cog has to work to make the whole thing happen. You’d miss any one of the cogs because that’s what makes Strictly into Strictly … I’m going to miss it all.”
The 72-year-old had been a judge on the show since the first series back in 2004.
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Oduba and Clifton’s score of 118 was enough to top the final leader board of the series as their rivals finished on 116 points. This was despite Danny Mac's record-breaking samba, which was the only one to be given full marks in the show’s history when the pair first performed it in week 10.
This year’s competition marks the show’s most-watched series in its 12-year history.
The Christmas line-up has been announced and includes our sister station KISS FM's breakfast presenter Marvin Odoom, former The Saturday's singer Frankie Bridge, TV chef Ainsley Harriott, Olympian Denise Lewis, TV presenter Gethin Jones and actress Pamela Stephenson. The special will air on Christmas day.