ACTOR Joe McFadden last night won TV's Strictly Come Dancing final, also becoming both the first Scot to win the title and the oldest champion in the show's history.
The 42-year old was favourite to win the coveted glitterball trophy, and had impressed throughout the 13-week competition.
Glasgow-born McFadden said he did not expect to win, adding: "Not in a million years, it feels completely surreal and I'm so in awe of everyone who started all of those weeks ago. "
There was a 50/50 chance that this year's winner, decided by public vote, would be the oldest contestant to be crowned, with 59-year-old McGee, widow of magician Paul Daniels, also in the running.
The pair were joined in the final by singer Alexandra Burke and actor Gemma Atkinson to make up the top four of the reality dancing show.
Each couple, with professional partner, performed a dance picked by the judges, a previous routine of their choice and a brand new showdance.
The former Holby City star danced with partner Katya Jones to the Viennese waltz, the showdance to You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates, finishing the final with the charleston. It earned them a perfect score of 40 with Darcey Bussell saying it was the "perfect end to a great final".
McFadden described partner Jones as an "amazing woman", adding "thank you for sticking with me and persevering". Jones responded: "You did it, you are so brilliant."
This year has been the most popular series of the BBC One show, attracting an average of 11 million viewers each weekend – beating last year's record.
It was also the first year that new head judge Shirley Ballas took over from previous star,Len Goodman. She joined fellow judges Bussell, Craig Revel-Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.
The eliminated celebrities from the series all returned to the dance floor for one last group dance.
Famous faces returning included Scottish comedian Susan Calman and The Saturdays singer Mollie King, who narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
JLS singer Aston Merrygold and Janette Manrara also returned for the finale. Merrygold was the bookies' favourite to win until his shock elimination saw him become the sixth celebrity to leave the show.
McFadden replaces last year's winner, TV presenter Ore Oduba.
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