Ellie Leach has been crowned Strictly Come Dancing 2023 champion.

After 12 weeks of performances, the final saw Layton Williams (Bad Education), Bobby Brazier (EastEnders) and Ellie Leach (Coronation Street) battle it out in an attempt to be crowned Strictly Come Dancing 2023 champions and take home the glitterball trophy.

The final started with a bang, as the professionals took to the floor with their own dance. 

Viewers were left sobbing as Amy Dowden made a surprise appearance in the dance, the first time she has been on the Strictly dancefloor in 2023. 

Dowden has been a professional dancer on the show since 2017 but has been forced to sit out the 2023 series of Strictly due to a battle with cancer. 

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 final

It was then the finalists turn to take to the floor.

The trio each had to perform three routines with their professional partners - one chosen by the judges, their favoutite and a show dance. 

Ellie Leach

Leach and her partner Vito Coppola started the final with a dramatic paso doble to Insomnia by 2WEI which earned them a score of 39.

They then performed their show dance set to a Jennifer Lopez megamix which earned them a 36. 

Their chosen dance was the American smooth which they performed to Ain’t That A Kick In The Head by Robbie Williams which the judges gave them a perfect 40 for.

Bobby Brazier

Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell started with their samba to Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton, which the judges had picked for them. 

This dance saw the judges score them 39.

Next they took on their show dance to a La La Land medley which earned them a score of 39.

To conclude, Brazier and Buswell reprised their emotional routine from a few weeks ago which was dedicated to Brazier’s late mother Jade Goody - who died in 2009 aged 27 with cervical cancer when he was just four.

Layton Williams

Williams and his partner Nikita Kuzmin also performed three times in the final. 

Their first dance was, which the judges had selected for them, was their quickstep to Puttin’ On The Ritz by Gregory Porter from week two. 

This dance wowed the judges and saw them score the pair a perfect 40. 

Next, they performed their show dance to Friend Like Me by Ne-Yo which earned them a score of 39.

Their final dance was their couple's choice. For this they picked their Argentine tango to Tattoo by Loreen. 

For this last dance, the judges scored them another perfect 40.

The show concluded with a dance by all the 2023 Strictly contestants.

But this came after some massive news was revealed to the nation.

Olly Alexander from Years and Years appeared on the show announcing he would be representing the UK at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden.

Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2023?

Judge Motsi Mabuse said Saturday's (December 16) final was "one of the best Strictly finals ever". 

But there could be only one winner. 

After all nine dances and the judge's scores, it was down to the public's vote as to who would be crowned Strictly Come Dancing 2023 champions.

After the public vote, Ellie Leach was announced as the winner of the Strictly Come Dancing 2023.