Spending time with his family will be top of Strictly Come
Dancing winner Ore Oduba's Christmas list this year. After winning the 2016 series on Saturday, the BBC sports
presenter said he "cannot wait for Christmas" and will enjoy a
holiday with his wife Portia.
Oduba, who had no previous dance training, beat Danny Mac
and Louise Redknapp in the show's grand final. He claimed the glitterball trophy with dance partner Joanne
Clifton, who will now be rehearsing for a musical.
Speaking shortly after their win, 30-year-old Oduba said:
"It doesn't make any sense to us right now, I cannot believe it, we did
not even consider this, not even for a single week.
What's next? Christmas, I cannot wait for Christmas.
I've neglected my family, same for Jo, we've been so hard-working."
Oduba added: "My wife Portia's supported us so much,
and just been my absolute anchor.
"And my mum and dad just being here - they've
sacrificed so much, both of our parents have sacrificed so much for us in our
lives - so for them to be here and see this, the most unexpected moment of my
life, is just incredible.
Clifton competed against her older brother Kevin, a fellow
professional dancer on the programme who was partner to Redknapp.
It was the fourth final for Kevin, who is yet to secure a
win, but Joanne said she was grateful he had been by her side when she won.
She said: "I mean, he's my older brother and I just
said sorry to him because he's made four finals and he's never won it yet, and
to get that reaction from him...
"I was away from my family for 14 years living in Italy
and I didn't see him that much, and since I've come back he's been a big
brother to me again."
Presenting or dancing?
During the televised final, presenter Claudia Winkleman said
she didn't know how Oduba would be "going back to the football field, but
we'll see", joking: "There's a swimming gala in Hull next week - good
luck with that.
But Oduba has insisted he is not giving up sports
presenting, even though he now thinks he will dance for the "rest of his
life".
He said: "I'm not giving up anything. In fact, it's
just been the best thing to acquire the ability to dance. It's just going to be a thread through my life, for
the rest of my life - I can't think of a time when I will not be dancing now.
It is in me now, I can't not dance.
Many of this series's contestants will be reunited for next
year's Strictly Come Dancing tour, which will begin in Birmingham on 20
January.
Oduba said of the tour: "We don't get to see the fans
who've been so supportive of us on this journey, so to be able to go out and
show it to people in January through to March will be amazing because they love
this show.
"You've seen from the figures, from the reaction, from
everybody just how much they love Strictly.
"To be able to go out on the 10th anniversary of the
tour - Len will be there, we're going to give him another swansong - it's going
to be exceptional and I can't wait."
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