Strictly Come Dancing's 5 biggest stories this week: The 2022 final

Strictly Come Dancing's final week is here, and what a series it's been for 2022.

A hugely talented cast, unexpected stars and some incredible dance journeys have made the 20th season of Strictly one to remember.

Read more: When the Strictly final is on and how to vote

These were the five biggest stories in the last week of Strictly 2022.

And your finalists are...

The last couple of weeks of the competition have been all over the place, thanks to the World Cup schedule, but our 2022 finalists were named on Monday evening.

Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquuez, and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu all made it straight through, while Fleur East and Vito Coppola were voted in by the judges during the dance off.

Read more: Who's the favourite to win Strictly 2022?

It's been announced that each couple will dance three times, with a routine chosen for them by the judges, their favourite one from the series, and a brand new show dance.

As head judge Shirley Ballas told This Morning: "It’s one of the strongest finals we’ve ever had...everybody is fighting to get that mirror ball."

Hamza says Strictly has left him 'happier and healthier'

The wildlife cameraman might have been the least well-known cast member when the series started, but now he's the viewer favourite - and Hamza Yassin says dancing in the show has had plenty of positive effects.

He said: "I've lost nearly 13 kilos so over a stone and a half. My feet are not achy anymore and I'm seeing body parts being defined and I feel so much happier, fitter and healthier.

"I hope I can keep it going, it will be amazing if I can. I am certainly healthier. I have lost 4-5 inches across my waist, it's just nuts.

"This suit I'm wearing was tailor-made at the beginning and now I'm wearing a belt to tighten it. It's an amazing feeling."

Helen has found her confidence on the dancefloor

Helen Skelton says Strictly has given her a confidence boost after a tough year - her husband Richie Myler left her in April when their third child was just four months old, announcing a new relationship a short time later.

She said: "Confidence is all relative, isn’t it?

"And challenges are all relative. But yes, I’ve definitely found my confidence on that dancefloor and I enjoy it and that’s what it’s about."

Read more: All the Strictly winners and finalists so far

Fans of the show loved Skelton's couple's choice routine to Mein Herr, which they labelled a "revenge dance" as the lyrics of the song appeared to make reference to her split.

Talking to dance partner Marquez, she said: "I think you’re clever in that you’ve never made it about being sexy, it’s been about being sassy and powerful and being in control.

"And that’s a wonderfully freeing thing for anybody when they feel in control of their own selves and what they’re doing.

"So I don’t think it’s about being sexy, I think it’s about being confident in your own skin and being who you are."

Will explains his semi final disappointment

Will Mellor and Nancy Xu were the unlucky couple to crash out of the contest in the semi final.

But Mellor's reaction to harsh criticism from the judges on his Paso Doble divided viewers as some claimed he looked angry at the judges' comments, while others thought he was just disappointed in himself.

Talking to It Takes Two, he said: "I am just human, everyone who meets me gets to meet me, I don’t have another person I can put on.

"I was disappointed, I’d worked so hard and we’d got so far in the competition, the last thing I wanted to do was get it wrong that night.

"From what the judges said, I beat myself up, and I’ve watched it back and I was too harsh on myself. I have always said what I really care most about, is making sure this lady next to me (Xu) is happy, if she is happy, I am happy."

Strictly stars get snowed in

Sunday night's snow caused chaos for many - including the Strictly stars, as Fleur East explained.

East told her The Hits Breakfast Show listeners on Monday morning: "I've come straight from the dancefloor after last night's Strictly because we were locked in Elstree thanks to the snow.

"By the time I was leaving everyone was queuing and waiting to get in a taxi but no one could get out! Even Shirley Ballas was stranded, sat on the sofa waiting for a cab!"

She added: "It was building up all night and as we were running in and out to do our two dances, we could see the snow falling and then just before the last dance everyone was like, 'That snow is really thick' and I thought then, 'How are we going to get home?'

"In the end, no one could leave because the snow was so bad!"

Strictly Come Dancing's final airs on Saturday at 7.05pm on BBC One.

Watch: Who is Strictly's Molly Rainford?