11m tune into 'Strictly' final

Around 11m viewers tuned in to watch the 2009 final of Strictly Come Dancing, according to the BBC.

Early figures from the corporation suggest that the audience peaked at 11.7m for the show, in which sports presenter Chris Hollins and partner Ola Jordan beat series favourite Ricky Whittle to the series title.

The number is slightly down on viewing figures for the 2008 final, which peaked at 13.3m.

And it's considerably less than the estimated 19m who tuned in to watch The X Factor final last weekend.

Meanwhile Hollins - who had started the final as the underdog against Whittle - said he could not stop staring at his trophy after returning home from his victory.

The 38-year-old told Radio 5 Live he had had "a few drinks and loads of cuddles with various people", and afterwards spent an hour "just trying to calm down".

But although he will be appearing on the Strictly live tour in the New Year, he admitted that he did not think he had a future in dance despite his triumph, and would be back on BBC Breakfast on Monday as usual.

I have had no professional dance opportunities and I don't think I ever will, so at the moment I am sticking to the day job," he said.