Strictly Come Dancing 2022 final suffers ratings drop as Hamza Yassin crowned winner

The viewing figures for the Strictly finale are in (Picture: PA)

The Strictly Come Dancing finale has taken a dip in viewers this year, with an average of 9.2million people tuning in to see wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin lift the glitterball.

It was a star-studded affair, with Hamza and his professional partner Jowita Przystal taking to the stage along with Fleur East and Vito Coppola, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, and Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez.

Figures have since revealed that the Saturday show had a ratings peak of 9.7million viewers.

The stats are down on the average of 11million people who watched the 2021 final when EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis made history as the first deaf winner.

Last year’s series peaked with 12.3million watching Ayling-Ellis become the champion along with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.

Hamza Yassin lifted the glitterball trophy with Jowita Przystal (Picture: BBC)

When comedian Bill Bailey, 57, became the oldest celebrity to win Strictly in 2020 with Oti Mabuse, Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher and Mabuse took home the trophy in 2019 and presenter Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton were crowned dancefloor champions in 2018, the average audience was around the 11million mark.

The first live show of the 2022 series of Strictly Come Dancing also saw ratings fall after an average of just 6.8million viewers tuned in, according to overnight ratings.

This was a decline in viewing figures from 2021’s first live show which was watched by an average of 7.9million.

Hamza still hasn’t processed his victory and admitted in a heartwarming social media post he is ‘still trying to comprehend what happen last night’.

Taking to Instagram to reflect on his triumph, he took a moment to heap praise on his partner Jowita, describing her as an ‘angel disguised as a human being’ and a ‘ray of sunshine’.

‘Thank you for your trust and guidance throughout this incredible journey,’ he penned. ‘You shone a light for me that got me through some tough weeks and you have been by my side every step of the way.

‘You will go on to do great things in your life. It was my pleasure to be your student. I will forever be grateful for how you have changed my life.’

Hamza also went on to thank the Strictly team for giving him the opportunity of a lifetime, before moving on to acknowledge the judges, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood.

He also thanked the British public for voting for him.

Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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It’s all over for another year.