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Alesha wins Strictly

23/12/2007

Former Misteeq singer Alesha Dixon has won the latest series of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing.

The 29-year-old beat EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo after both celebrities performed five dances with their partners.

Matt and his partner Flavia Cacace may have seemed an unlikely pair for the final a few weeks ago when the EastEnders star's nerves got the better of him, but his top score of 40 - the first of the series - last week put him firmly in line to win the show.

However, he faced stiff competition from Alesha, who scored more tens from the judges than anyone else.

And after another excellent set of dances on last night's final, Alesha and her dance partner Matthew Cutler took the crown in the show's fifth series.

Craig Revel Horwood said after the singer's waltz on the first instalment of the show last night: "I've got goose bumps again. I found it flawless."

And fellow judge Arlene Philips stuck with her traditional brand of post-dance comments, adding: "Triple A - absolutely amazing Alesha!"

Handing an overwhelmed Alesha the winner's trophy, show host Bruce Forsyth told the singer: "You could become the biggest female star in this country."

Both couples performed five dances in the final, with an electric atmosphere as both waltzed simultaneously to kick off the show.

They also performed their favourite Latin dance from the show before jiving to T-Rex's I Love to Boogie, specially chosen by the judges.

And for a thrilling finale, the two pairs performed a freestyle show dance, with Matt raising the bar by completing an impressive one-hand lift as he and Flavia danced to Are You Gonna Go My Way? by Lenny Kravitz.

Alesha and Matthew were not to be undone however and excelled in a high-tempo dance to Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For a Hero, sealing the public's approval and the series win.

Reformed girl band the Spice Girls also performed on the show, singing their former Christmas number one single 2 Become 1 to an audience including David Walliams and Jeremy Paxman.