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Liam O'Dell
Dec 19, 2021
Just when everything else in the world was getting a bit much, the final of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday was the glimmer of joy everyone needed - as a black woman, Deaf woman and same-sex couple made it into the top three.
After TV presenter AJ Odudu was forced to pull out of the competition due to an ankle injury, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis took on Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite in a glitzy final.
Following three dances by both couples, Ms Ayling-Ellis and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice were crowned champions for 2021.
In a video reacting to their win, the actress said: “I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say. I feel like I’m living in a dream, it doesn’t feel real.
Mr Pernice agreed: “It doesn’t feel real. We just wanted to say thank you to everyone who voted for us. You made this happen.
“You are unbelievable, you are part of the victory, so thank you, thank you, thank you.
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“You did it Rose, I’m proud of you.”
In other news, we are pleased to report that our tear ducts are working.
With a male same-sex couple also in the final of the BBC competition, many took to Twitter to celebrate the representation amongst the finalists:
my sister about #Strictly: it’s really showing how important representation is and how it helps to education the ne… https://t.co/bLgIKQpTuI— rob (@rob) 1639859553
If only politics had the integrity, work ethics and generosity of the Strictly dancers and contestants. Powerful me… https://t.co/5OsUbt0eXs— Jen #JoinAUnion (@Jen #JoinAUnion) 1639858288
Never in my life did I think I would see a m/m partnership on #Strictly Representation means everything and, lads… https://t.co/tkC5H6mWmp— Stuart Debar (@Stuart Debar) 1639858810
This year's inspirational #Strictly has beautifully highlighted how EVERYONE wins when we have proper inclusion and… https://t.co/p5XkB1S26W— Chris 🎾🌈🔶️ (@Chris 🎾🌈🔶️) 1639861741
What a wonderful, beautiful show #Strictly is. It really does lift people up. It’s such a joyful experience. And th… https://t.co/BvwNuKsFdS— Nadine Erskine NHS💙 🖤 🏳️🌈🐘🐬🎭 (@Nadine Erskine NHS💙 🖤 🏳️🌈🐘🐬🎭) 1639862700
@bbcstrictly @RoseAylingEllis @pernicegiovann1 119/120 both #Strictly pairs, so both winners in my eyes. Congrats R… https://t.co/aTr9jdGUZc— Bobby Seagull (UK Libraries Champion @CILIPinfo) (@Bobby Seagull (UK Libraries Champion @CILIPinfo)) 1639861271
So it wasn't just me who wept through #Strictly then 😭 The representation, the joy, the gratitude I feel to every… https://t.co/gPZSlpu7Xj— Amy Jane Smith (@Amy Jane Smith) 1639863240
😭I don’t think I’ve had a dry eye during tonight’s #Strictly final - and I’m not usually a cryer. ✨This is the fir… https://t.co/GPepPmreSZ— Josh Babarinde OBE (@Josh Babarinde OBE) 1639860099
Seriously the inclusivity and the representation of this series of #Strictly is off the charts. Everyone should be… https://t.co/IclaAwa9oR— ꧁ 𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 ꧂ (@꧁ 𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 ꧂) 1639859276
It was also pointed out that with Mr Pernice being Italian, the country has won a lot of things this year:
Rose and Giovanni winning #Strictly means that Italy have won this, Bake Off, the 100 metres, Euro 2020, the high j… https://t.co/5SDk6wO77c— Scott Bryan (@Scott Bryan) 1639861415
Well played again Italy 🇮🇹 #Strictly https://t.co/Mpaut0IYDg— BBC Strictly ✨ (@BBC Strictly ✨) 1639861971
Italy dominate 2021! #Strictly #Euros #Eurovision #BakeOff https://t.co/7WGMaT2FRr— Sohail Shah (@Sohail Shah) 1639861316
🇮🇹 #Eurovision WIN 🇮🇹 Euro 2020 WIN 🇮🇹 Giovanni Pernice #Strictly WIN 💚♥️ ITALY HAVE DOMINATED 2021 ♥️💚 https://t.co/P3HyhlXMe3— Mr Adam R (@Mr Adam R) 1639862382
Italy absolutely smashing a thing Brits really care about AGAIN #Strictly— Gee Aitch Cee (@Gee Aitch Cee) 1639861330
Year. Of. Italy. #Eurovision #Euros #OlympicMens100m #Strictly https://t.co/k9dq7ayY0c— Jon Harvey (@Jon Harvey) 1639861485
As the bond between the two couples brought everyone to tears – the word “sobbing” trended on Twitter during the show - judge Anton du Beke summed up how we were all feeling:
Anton is all of us tonight #Strictly 😭 https://t.co/Wan670LKzN— BBC Strictly ✨ (@BBC Strictly ✨) 1639858520
@bbcstrictly Anton is all of us for the next week. This is a lot 😭😆— AliceAnneFaith (@AliceAnneFaith) 1639858583
@bbcstrictly I’m absolutely howling 😭😭😭😭 Rose and Gio for the glitterball xxxxxxx— Barb50 (@Barb50) 1639858707
@bbcstrictly So beautiful 😍 https://t.co/maho17jmL6— Dr. Muddy Boots 💐🏴🐝❤️🌍 💙 (@Dr. Muddy Boots 💐🏴🐝❤️🌍 💙) 1639858713
@bbcstrictly Every times she dances I'm in bits. What a fantastic pair they make, such a joy to watch and so emotional.— kim freeman (@kim freeman) 1639858653
@bbcstrictly I was doing so well until Anton just set me off. Tears flowing. Such a beautiful dance.— Ruth Mhic Eochaidh (@Ruth Mhic Eochaidh) 1639858672
@bbcstrictly My husband and I were sobbing every time @RoseAylingEllis and @pernicegiovann1 danced. Our winners from week 1 🎉🥂🥰— Nick 💙⭐️ (@Nick 💙⭐️) 1639862096
I have to say I never thought I’d see the day I’d be a sobbing mess watching a dancing show. I adore Rose. I adore… https://t.co/621Cjexbno— colin macfarlane (@colin macfarlane) 1639858485
Just sat on a Saturday night sobbing my eyes out at #Strictly https://t.co/mI8cBai3dr— Ellen👸🏾 (@Ellen👸🏾) 1639860031
Rose and Giovanni, John and Johannes, AJ and her partner Kai are all winners when that much representation hits our screens on a Saturday night.
We’ll probably need a week to recover from this.
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