11 million viewers tune in to watch Chris Hollins win Strictly Come Dancing
Underdog Chris Hollins and dance partner Ola Jordan win Strictly
Figures released today show that over 11 million viewers tuned into last night’s Strictly Come Dancing final to see sports presenter Chris Hollins win the competition and pick up the famous glitter ball trophy.
Although the viewing figures sound impressive, disappointingly the numbers are down on last year when 13.3 million viewers switched on to catch the Strictly final.
Chris Hollins beat off stiff competition from the favourite to win the show, Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle, to pick up the title of Strictly champion 2009. Both celebrities along with their professional dance partners had the mammoth task of performing 4 separate dances each, with Chris ending one of his dances, standing on the judges’ table. Despite receiving fewer points from the judges, Chris, along with dance partner Ola Jordan, beat Ricky after winning the public vote.
After the show, Ricky described how he had been suffering from an inguinal hernia during his time on the Strictly. The actor kept the medical problem as secret for fear of being made to leave the show, and to prevent getting put through on a sympathy vote from the public.
Despite being crowned the winner of Strictly Come Dancing, grounded sports presenter Chris has no grand ambitions for a career in dance and said he’s perfectly happy to “stick to the day job.” Runner-up Ricky Whittle on the other hand has seriously big ideas for the future and has revealed he plans to leave Hollyoaks in order to try his luck over in Hollywood.
Amy Winehouse to make comeback appearance on Strictly Come Dancing
Winehouse will appear with goddaughter on Strictly
The BBC have confirmed that troubled singer Amy Winehouse will perform on Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday. However the star seems to be easing herself back into the spotlight as she won’t be the main attraction on the hit BBC1 show. Instead she will be singing backing vocals to support her goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield’s, debut TV performance.
Amy is a big supporter of 13-year-old Dionne and has even signed her to her own music label, Lioness Records. The talented youngster will perform a cover of the 1961 hit for The Shirelles, Mama Said, with her famous godmother helping her out with backing vocals.
It’s a massive coup for the aspiring singer who will benefit from the huge boost in her profile just in time for the release of her debut album which features a string of covers featuring soul hits such as Tell Him and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. Amy has been heavily involved in the making of the record also providing vocal support on a number of the tracks.
Dionne and Amy share a close relationship with the 13-year-old describing her as being “like my sister.” Ahead of the forthcoming performance Dionne admitted that the pair of them are big fans of Strictly with the youngster admitting to never missing show.
Amy has spoken in glowing terms about her goddaughter highlighting her unique talent saying: “The first time I heard Dionne sing, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing – such an amazing voice from such a young girl.”
Following a turbulent few years whilst Winehouse has endured a public battle with drug and alcohol addiction and gone through a divorce, we’ve seen very little of the Rehab singer. Aside from an impromptu appearance at the V Festival alongside another band, Amy has spent the last 12 months in St Lucia writing material for her eagerly awaited new album.
Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood splits from 20-year-old lover
Ronnie Woods and girlfriend have split
Rolling Stone guitarist, Ronne Wood, has proved the world right after his 12 month controversial romance with a 20-year-old Russian waitress has crashed and burned. The tabloids reported that the mismatched pair had had a blazing row earlier this week which was so severe, the police had to be called in.
Now the 62-year-old ageing rocker has sent his personal bodyguard around to the home he shared with his young girlfriend, Ekaterina Ivanova who is 42 year his junior, to collect his belongings. The burly security man was spotted helping to load guitars, artwork and furniture into a waiting removals truck, Ronnie however, was nowhere to be seen.
Wood’s affair with the young cocktail waitress, who he met in a bar in Soho last year, caused the end of his marriage to Jo Wood to whom he’d been with for over 20 years. As details emerge about the nature of the unlikely couple’s split, it seems that his estranged wife was unwittingly, at the centre of it.
It has been reported that Ronnie was keen for reconciliation with his wife and was pushing to have a reunion dinner with her and their children. His attempt at bridge building with his estranged wife wound 20-year-old Ekaterina up no end and was at the root of their argument.
Another incident which is said to have riled the Russian was Wood’s decision to use his daughter, Leah, to model his new clothing range and not his girlfriend. It is claimed Ekaterina did not take kindly to being overlooked.
Sources close to Ronnie’s ex Jo, who is about to appear in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, say she is “still in love with Ronnie” but the possibility of a reconciliation is very slim at the moment as she feels totally betrayed after the whole affair.
Ex-Hollyoaks actress grabs a lift in Konnie Huq’s chauffeur driven limo
Ali Bastian hopped in Konnie's limo
Ex-Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian is about to take part in the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, but it’s fair to say she won’t be able to count on Konnie Huq’s vote. The cheeky blonde ruffled the former Blue Peter presenter’s feathers when she hopped into a limo reserved for Konnie over the weekend.
Both celebrities were attending the Bittersweet Garden Party at the Soho Sanctum Hotel and enjoyed an evening knocking back the free cocktails when the incident occurred. An organiser for the event explained that a chauffeur driven limo was booked for every celebrity attending. The limos rides were scheduled to a “strict running order” which The Bill actress seemed to blatantly disregard. Those who saw the diminutive presenter’s reaction said she “didn’t look best pleased.”
Other well known names who attended the event included another Blue Peter presenter, Zoe Salmon, Pussycat Doll singer Kimberley Wyatt and DJ Ironik.
Ali Bastian was revealed last week as one of the celebrity contestants on the hit BBC One Show Strictly Come Dancing. She will be partnered by professional dancer Brian Fortuna, an American dancer and choreographer whose speciality dance is Latin. The new series is due to hit our screens from September 18th. Other celebrities appearing on the show this year include Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe, Eastender’s actress Natalie Cassidy and ex-Rolling Stones wife, Jo Wood.
Joe Calzaghe steps up to the mark on Strictly Come Dancing
Joe Calzaghe to join Strictly Come Dancing?
The undefeated light heavyweight champion of the world, Joe Calzaghe, has set his sights on his next challenge, and it involves wearing a frilly shirt. Rumours are circulating that the Welsh ex-boxer will join the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing as one of the celebrity contestants when the show starts back this autumn.
Joe’s father and former trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, let the cat out of the bag over the weekend. When asked by a reporter whether he knew anything about the rumours Enzo replied “I know about it, of course I know about it.” Joe’s uncle Uccio also chimed in adding “I think he’ll do very well” going on to say “He will put his heart into it 100%”
The lucky lady due to partner up with Joe on the dance floor is said to be Kristina Rihanoff. It’s a turn of fortunes for the Russian dancer who bowed out of the competition last year with her hapless celebrity partner, John Sergeant.
This will be Joe’s first foray into the public spotlight since announcing his retirement from professional boxing last February. He was last seen winning a high court battle in March against his former promoter, Sports Network Limited. The ex-boxer from Newbridge, South Wales, never seems to lose at anything; he finished his career on a high, remaining undefeated after 46 professional fights and beat off stiff competition to pick up the BBC Sports Personality of The Year in 2007. Will he be able to add a Strictly trophy to his already heaving mantelpiece? We think he stands a pretty good chance.
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