Strictly Come Dancing final: Stars gear up for face-off

BBC Nikita Kuzmin, Layton Williams, Bobby Brazier, Dianne Buswell, Ellie Leach & Vito Coppola. The 2023 Strictly Come Dancing finalists stand in a line with the glitterball trophy in the middle. Nikita has floppy blonde hair and wears an unbuttoned blue shirt over a white vest. He rests his hand on Layton's left shoulder. Layton, who has short dark hair, wears a white sweater vest and has his right hand in his pocket. Bobby, stands about a head taller than the rest of his cast members and has curly brown hair. He smiles at the camera, wearing a black T-shirt exposing a tattoo on his right upper arm. His partner Dianne stands next to him, she has long bright red hair and wears red lipstick and a black vest. Next in the line is Ellie, who is the shortest of the finalists, she has long brown hair and wears an unbuttoned pale shirt over a black vest. Her partner Vito is hugging her and resting his cheek on the top of her head. Vito wears a long sleeved navy blue shirt and has short brown hair.BBC
Finalists Nikita Kuzmin, Layton Williams, Bobby Brazier, Dianne Buswell, Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola will take to the floor on Saturday

After weeks of training, the finalists of Strictly Come Dancing are primed to take to the dancefloor one last time.

Bobby Brazier, Layton Williams and Ellie Leach go toe to toe later to get their hands on the glitterball trophy.

The last couples dancing will perform three routines each in front of a live audience and the Strictly judges before the public votes for a winner.

With an average age of 23, this year's trio are the youngest line-up to make it to the last week of the BBC show.

'It's just the most unique experience'

Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell during one of their routines. Bobby wears a blue suit over a black shirt, paired with white and black brogue shoes. Dianne, with her red hair tied back in a pony tail, wears a short yellow ruffled dress with a black trim and shoes to match Bobby's. They are pictured hopping with their right legs raised while their right arms swing out. Behind them is the live studio audience and the staging is set with purple shapes on a black screen.
Bobby says he "just fell in love with ballroom" after his first routine

"I didn't even know what ballroom really was," says EastEnders actor and model Bobby Brazier.

The 20-year-old is partnered with Dianne Buswell - who he says has certainly taught him a thing or two - and now he's hooked.

"There's an elegance and a maturity and a loveliness," he says. "I can't really describe it. But it's a lovely feeling."

He moved fans in week 10 when he dedicated a routine to his mum, reality star Jade Goody, who died in 2009.

Bobby tells BBC Newsbeat the moment was "a once in a lifetime opportunity", but he'll perform the tribute with Diane again in the final, along with a Samba routine and their show dance.

Looking back at the past 12 weeks, he says Strictly has been "the most unique experience" and he's already taking what he's learnt into the world outside the studio.

"I've really looked forward to going out again and maybe using a little bit of what I've picked in the club or in the bar," he says.

'The final was on my dream mood board'

Nikita Kuzmin, Layton Williams during one of their routines. They wear matching cream, grey and burgundy checked suits over purple shirts with orange bow ties, socks and orange flowers tucked in their lapels. They are photographed mid jump, arms outstretched and legs swung to their right, heels together. The stage is set behind them with purple lighting and orange umbrellas
Layton says the bond between him and partner Nikita "has been really special"

"I definitely came on this show to just have fun, to dance and to learn new skills," says Layton. But he's also had to deal with some things he wasn't expecting.

The Bad Education and West End star, 29, has faced a lot of negative comments online.

"There's not a lot of people like me on TV, especially every single weekend, dancing with this fabulous man," he says.

Layton says dancing in a same-sex couple is "pushing a boundary".

"That is just my norm, but it's not everyone's norm," he says.

"It's been the most beautiful, rewarding thing that's come out of the show by just being me.

"Yes it's ruffled a few feathers, but it's actually inspired way more people and brought way more love and joy than I'd ever hoped."

Making it to the final was definitely on his "dream mood board", Layton says, but it's been a "mammoth task".

With the final in sight Layton says he and his partner Nikita Kuzmin "just want to go out with a bang".

'It's been completely different to Corrie'

Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola during one of their performances. The set is bubblegum pink, staged with multiple pink and blue teddy bears and pink hearts. Ellie wears her brown hair tied back in a bun with a pink and blue ruffled dress while Vito is wearing blue trousers and a pink shirt. In their routine, they hold hands while leaning back, their free arms outstretched behind them
Ellie says Strictly has "opened a new chapter" after 12 years working on Coronation Street

Completing the line-up is Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach and her partner Vito Coppola.

"It sounds like I'm being dramatic, but it's actually been life-changing for me," says Ellie, 22.

"I'm such a different person to what I was on week one. This has taught me so much about myself."

The actress left the cobbles earlier this year and says filming Strictly "has been completely different to what Corrie was".

"Strictly has really helped me grow in confidence and self belief," she says. "Before, I was kind of scared of the unknown whereas now, I feel like I embrace it."

Ellie and Vito will perform their Paso Doble routine again, with Vito promising fans "even more fire".

"These three dances are just a real showcase of everything that I've learned over the course of the competition," says Ellie.

"I'm really, really excited to just go out there for the final and do these three dances and just leave everything on the dance floor."

The Strictly Come Dancing grand final will be broadcast on Saturday 16 December from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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