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Craig Revel Horwood has praised this year’s Strictly Come Dancing final as one of the ‘most amazing’ yet as fans continued to speculate over the reason he broke down during the show.
The judge, 58, who has appeared on the panel since its debut in 2004, choked back tears as he complimented eventual winner Ellie Leach during Saturday’s live show.
And he then took to social media to gush about the final and Strictly itself, before wishing his followers a happy Christmas.
Craig penned: ‘One of the most amazing finals I’ve had the pleasure of watching tonight!
‘Thank you Strictly for being fab u lous and keeping us all entertained throughout the Christmas season.
![Craig Revel Horwood has praised this year's Strictly Come Dancing final as one of the 'most amazing' yet as fans continued to speculate over the reason he broke down during the show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79052173-12873567-Craig_Revel_Horwood_has_praised_this_year_s_Strictly_Come_Dancin-a-15_1702803337766.jpg)
Craig Revel Horwood has praised this year’s Strictly Come Dancing final as one of the ‘most amazing’ yet as fans continued to speculate over the reason he broke down during the show
![The judge, 58, who has appeared on the panel since its debut in 2004, choked back tears as he complimented eventual winner Ellie Leach during Saturday's live show (Ellie and Vito pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79052175-12873567-image-a-2_1702803037009.jpg)
The judge, 58, who has appeared on the panel since its debut in 2004, choked back tears as he complimented eventual winner Ellie Leach during Saturday’s live show (Ellie and Vito pictured)
![And he then took to social media to gush about the final and Strictly itself, before wishing his followers a happy Christmas](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79051991-12873567-And_he_then_took_to_social_media_to_gush_about_the_final_and_Str-a-16_1702803356773.jpg)
And he then took to social media to gush about the final and Strictly itself, before wishing his followers a happy Christmas
‘Happy Christmas everyone. Have a wonderful holiday season and may the new year bring you many incredible memories and adventures!’
It comes after viewers became convinced they had worked out the real reason for Craig’s unexpected tears on Saturday’s show.
Several fans claimed his emotion was a clue he was preparing to quit the show, after he recalled the very first series in his critique.
The choreographer struggled to keep it together after Corrie star Ellie, 22, made mistakes during her second dance and slipped from partner Vito Coppola’s shoulders during a tricky lift.
Comforting her, Craig said: ‘I’m so pleased that you did take a risk. And I think back, actually, to series one and I was imagining Natasha Kaplinksy doing that and how far this programme has come’.
With tears in his eyes he added: ‘You’re amazing’ prompting fellow judge Motsi Mabuse to place a hand on his shoulder.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one asked: ‘Does anyone feel like this is Craig’s last night as judge? He seems super emotional and normally he doesn’t give a s***’.
While a second said: ‘Why did I get farewell vibes from Craig tonight? He’s not leaving is he?’.
![It comes after viewers became convinced they had worked out the real reason for Craig's unexpected tears on Saturday's show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79047395-12873567-The_judge_choked_back_tears_as_he_complimented_eventual_winner_E-a-4_1702803143001.jpg)
It comes after viewers became convinced they had worked out the real reason for Craig’s unexpected tears on Saturday’s show
![The choreographer struggled to keep it together after Corrie star Ellie, 22, made mistakes during her second dance and slipped from partner Vito Coppola's shoulders during a tricky lift](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79047701-12873567-The_choreographer_struggled_to_keep_it_together_after_Corrie_sta-a-5_1702803163049.jpg)
The choreographer struggled to keep it together after Corrie star Ellie, 22, made mistakes during her second dance and slipped from partner Vito Coppola’s shoulders during a tricky lift
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79047681-12873567-image-a-6_1702803191388.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79047635-12873567-image-a-7_1702803193761.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79047645-12873567-image-a-8_1702803195543.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79047657-12873567-image-a-9_1702803197528.jpg)
![Several fans claimed his emotion was a clue he was preparing to quit the show, after he recalled the very first series in his critique](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79047653-12873567-Several_fans_claimed_his_emotion_was_a_clue_he_was_preparing_to_-a-14_1702803321677.jpg)
Several fans claimed his emotion was a clue he was preparing to quit the show, after he recalled the very first series in his critique
And a third suggested: ‘I feel like Craig might be leaving or something. I hope he doesn’t’.
Someone else mused: ‘I wonder if Craig is considering leaving Strictly Come Dancing given his emotion and his “when I think how far the show has come” comment after Ellie’s showdance’.
While another fan said: ‘the way Craig got all emotional talking about thinking back to season 1 of Strictly Come Dancing is making me wonder if this is his last season? he’s mentioned it a few times this year and i’m worried he’s leaving…’
Despite the hiccup Ellie and Vito were crowned this year’s winners following the glitzy live final.
At 22-years-old she became the show’s youngest ever winner as she pipped Bobby Brazier and Layton Williams to the post after each couple performed three dances for the judges.
Ellie and Vito, who are rumoured to be an item, were both gobsmacked when their names were announced with the soap star’s family breaking down in tears as they watched from the studio audience.
![Despite the hiccup Ellie and Vito were crowned this year's winners following the glitzy live final, beating off competition from Bobby Brazier and Layton Williams](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79043811-12873567-At_22_years_old_she_became_the_show_s_youngest_ever_winner_as_sh-a-12_1702803242721.jpg)
Despite the hiccup Ellie and Vito were crowned this year’s winners following the glitzy live final, beating off competition from Bobby Brazier and Layton Williams
![Ellie and Vito, who are rumoured to be an item, were gobsmacked when their names were announced with the actress' family breaking down in tears as they watched from the audience](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/17/08/79043327-12873567-Ellie_and_Vito_who_are_rumoured_to_be_an_item_were_both_gobsmack-a-11_1702803231920.jpg)
Ellie and Vito, who are rumoured to be an item, were gobsmacked when their names were announced with the actress’ family breaking down in tears as they watched from the audience
The overwhelmed duo choked back tears as they embraced before speaking to hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
‘I actually, genuinely cannot believe this,’ a stunned Ellie muttered before exclaiming that this was the first time she had ever seen Vito, 31, cry.
‘This is for you!’ Ellie told her partner, who said the win was just the ‘cherry on the top’ before branding her a ‘diamond’.
They raised the glitterball trophy as pyrotechnics sparked and confetti fell from the ceiling as they were lifted onto the shoulders of their former competitors.