Strictly: Louis' shirtless show dance wows judges

Strictly: Louis' shirtless show dance wows judges
Strictly: Louis' shirtless show dance wows judges

Louis Smith wowed the judges on Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing final with a graceful showdance which saw him go shirtless as well as show off his gymnastic skills. The 22-year-old - who was later crowned series winner - made his mark with his routine to Take That's Rule The World, which saw him perform a daring handstand on top of a giant globe before lifting partner Flavia Cacace high above his shoulders. And the judges could not hide their enthusiasm, with Darcey Bussell telling him: "You blew me away, and I really really liked it." Bruno Tonioli was similarly keen, telling him: "You had the strength of a superhero - you went from another angle, it was deeply effective and memorable." Saturday night's show also saw Louis triumph with a reprisal the Charleston which won him his first 10s from the judges when he previously performed it - as well as his Dirty Dancing inspired salsa from earlier in the series. Len Goodman called the routine "fabulous," adding, "Louis, your hips, your bum was great. Last time you were like a budgie, this time you were like an eagle." And Bruno also approved, telling him: "You've been hiding for so long but it was worth waiting for. You have an ease of movement and fluidity." Elsewhere Kimberley Walsh also impressed the judges with reprisals of her tango and Viennese Waltz from earlier in the series - as well as performing a sizzling showdance to Beyonce's Crazy In Love. The latter saw her kicking off the routine in a black jumpsuit before disappearing behind a screen and emerging in a sexy pink minidress to complete the dance. And she particularly impressed Craig Revel Horwood, who told her, "It was indecent, absolute filth...I loved it." Bruno, meanwhile, called the routine "smoking hot and deliriously sexy". Denise Van Outen also impressed the panel with her trio of routines, which included a reprisal of her Egyptian-themed Charleston from Wembley week and her jive with James Jordan - while her showdance, to Flashdance, won her her first full house of the series. "It was absolutely incredible," Craig said of her performance. "I can't believe what your body did." Bruno called the routine "epic" and added: "It had an incredible level of difficulty and you pulled it off in a way I've never seen before."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.