Strictly Come DancingĀ ended its 2012 series with a stunning, and intense, final on Saturday night which saw Louis Smith beat Denise Van Outen, Kimberley Walsh and Dani Harmer to the glitterball trophy.
The final also reunited the entire 2012 cast for one last group dance and it was a joy to see Team RiRo aka Robin Windsor and Lisa Riley dancing together one last time (well until the tour in the New Year of course).
With the glitter now being swept off the dance floor we thought weād give you one lastĀ StrictlyĀ treat and have a final chat for 2012 with Robin Windsor. We talked about the weekendās final, his highlights from the series and his plans for Christmas.
āStrictlyā is over for another year. How does it feel?
It feels really strange. TheĀ StrictlyĀ bubble has now been burst and itās been a long four months for all of us. All of a sudden I have a day off and I donāt know what to do with myself. It was a fantastic series and Louis was a well-deserved winner. In fact all four finalists were well-deserved winners.
The final was really close this year and it was tough to figure out who would walk away with the glitterball trophyā¦
For the first time in a long time it was really, really difficult to pick out who was going to win. Normally thereās a standout but this year it was a very closely fought competition. I think Louisā showdance won it for him.
His showdance definitely clinched it for him. It was quite different to the usual showdances wasnāt it?
Yes completely. On the other hand Deniseās showdance was one of the best showdances that Iāve ever seen onStrictly, if not THE best.
Denise took some brave chances with those lifts didnāt she?
Iād be very scared to do a lot of those lifts. For her to throw herself into themā¦ it was just remarkable to see anyone do them.
The whole āStrictlyā 2012 cast were back together for a final dance on Saturday night. What was that like?
It was amazing to have the whole cast back together. Ā To see people like Jerry and JohnnyĀ – it feels like about a year ago since we last saw them ā and have the whole family back together was great. We had great time and the number we performed together was a great joy. Of course I also got to do one more dance with my lovely Lisa.
That backwards shimmy was pretty impressiveā¦
We knew it would be the last time weād be seen onĀ StrictlyĀ this year so we gave it a million percent.
We loved that you incorporated the classic week one lift tooā¦
Of course! We had our iconic lift from week one. What better way for us to close our show than how we opened it.
Whatās been your highlight of this series?
There are a million highlights this year. Itās been amazing week-on-week. The biggest highlight for me would be getting partnered with Lisa and our week one revelation. Every week was a highlight. Every number we did was a highlight. There are going to be many more highlights on the tour.
What was your favourite routine from another couple this year?
My favourite dance of the series would have to beā¦ Itās a choice between two; Kimberley and Pashaās Charleston and Denise and Jamesā Tango. Oh also Dani and Vincentās Viennese Waltz. I couldnāt pick a favourite. All three of them were absolutely brilliant.
It seems like you really bonded with Dani over the series tooā¦
Daniās an absolute sweetheart. She grew week-upon-week in the show. Sheās really, really lovely. Weāre going to be on the tour together. She and Lisa were best friends from the start as well as Denise. Everyoneās just lovely and fun but I thought Dani was very underrated on the show. She should have got a lot more praise for what she did.
We thought the judges were a bit harsh on her in the finalā¦
They were a little harsh on Dani in the final and I didnāt think it was necessary.Ā She was doing brilliantly and I think everybody was a deserving winner.
Whatās it been like having Darcey on the judging panel this year?
Darcey has been an incredible addition to the judging panel. She brings with her such a high standard of training and she knows what itās like for all of these dancers to do what they do. Apart from Len being the harshest ballroom judge, Darcey knows everything there is that goes into training and technique. Sheās constructively criticised all the way through the show which is exactly what we all need to hear.
Sheās started a bit of a craze thanks to her āyahsā hasnāt she?
The first couple of weeks Darcey had about a million āyahsā but theyāve been cut down a little bit now. Thatās what we all love about her. Sheās just fabulous, absolutely beautiful and looks incredible every single week.
Are you hoping to return to āStrictlyā next year?
I loveĀ Strictly Come DancingĀ itās the best job in the world. I pray and hope that I get to come back next year because if not I wouldnāt know what to do with myself. Itās the best job in the entire world.
Seeing as itās Christmas Eve we want to know your festive plans. What will you be doing tomorrow to celebrate?
As Iām in the process of moving and everything is in boxes Iāve actually got a hotel for Christmas. Iāll be there tonight and Christmas Day with my other half. Weāre going to have everything delivered to the room so thereāll be no cleaning and no cooking as we just havenāt had time.
That soundās perfect to us!
Yeah itāll be quite nice to not have to worry about anything.
What will you be doing to ring in the New Year?
Iām going with a group of friends to Bath just before the New Year for a few days. Then weāre going to have a big party hopefully in my new place if itās all ready to go.
Once New Year is out of the way 2013 is pretty full-on for you isnāt it?
Next year is non-stop from start to end. First up is theĀ StrictlyĀ tour which starts in February then Iām ecstatic to be starring on the West End with Kirstina Rihanoff for four monthsĀ inĀ Burn The Floor. Itās been a dream of mine to star on the West End and Iāve finally been offered it. Itās going to be a magical year.
We canāt wait to see you in āBurn The Floorāā¦
Itās going to be fantastic to come back and star in the show that I was a part of for so many year. It feels like Iāve come full circle and I couldnāt be any happier.
āStrictly Come Dancingā is back for a Christmas special tomorrow (Christmas Day) at 6.15pm on BBC One and BBC HD.Ā