A DANCER is heading home today after taking another step towards his dream of becoming professional by winning a TV talent contest.

Darrien Wright, 21, from Darlington, and dance partner Hollie Robertson were crowned winners of BBC's Strictly Dance Fever on Saturday night.

The pair, who saw off competition from more than 20,000 dancers, won £50,000 and parts in the West End production of Footloose.

Darrien and Hollie, from Ludlow, Shropshire, were one of three pairs in Saturday night's live final on BBC1.

Selected as the top pairing by the judging panel, they survived a tense public vote to beat rivals Darren Bailey and Lana Williams.

Darrien said: "It's not sunk in. It was the longest 20 seconds of my life, waiting for our names to be announced."

Hollie said: "It's surreal. I don't know what's going on but I know I'm so happy."

After the show, presenter Graham Norton said: "I'm just thrilled it has happened for Darrien and Hollie, they've worked so hard and I think out of the final three couples, they wanted it the most and in the end they got it."

Wayne Sleep, one of the judges, said: "Darrien and Hollie deserved it. From day one they've wanted it, they were the most hungry couple and they really deserve it."

Darrien and Hollie wowed the judges and voting public with their display of The Milonga and their freestyle dance.

Judges awarded them a top score of 40 points in both dances.

But the final brought disappointment for Hartlepool dancer Stephannie Croxson, and partner Ben Harrold, who finished in third place.

Despite being awarded their personal best score of 36 in the freestyle section, they failed to reach the final two.

The couple scored 68 out of 80 earlier in the evening for their Lindy Hop and freestyle performances, but, that, combined with the viewers' votes, was not enough to see them through.