Strictly Come Dancing’s ‘real’ winner revealed as show star set to make £2million from West End and TV jobs
Bobby is set to reap the greatest rewards from his profile-boosting appearance
STRICTLY Come Dancing runner-up Bobby Brazier is the real winner of this year’s contest — as he is set to make £2million over the coming year.
The EastEnders star and pro partner Dianne Buswell were beaten by actress Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola in Saturday night’s final.
But Bobby, 20, is set to reap the greatest rewards from his profile-boosting appearance.
The BBC is already eyeing him up to present a travelogue show with dad Jeff, 44.
Bobby, son of the tragic reality star Jade Goody, is also likely to be swamped with offers to be in West End shows, sign record deals and make ad appearances.
A TV insider said: “From the start of Strictly, Beeb bosses realised that they had a serious star on their hands — and the fact that he made it to the final was a complete bonus.
“So they’re incredibly keen to keep him with the Corporation, not least because Bobby is seen as home-grown talent as he got his big TV break on EastEnders.
“The travelogue show would be a shrewd way to tempt him to stay with the Beeb and is likely to be among the first of many projects they’ll tempt him with — many with a fat pay cheque too.
“Involving dad Jeff is also a smart idea as his profile has been raised enormously by appearing in the Strictly audience for the past three months. The bond between Brazier junior and senior is obvious to everyone and bosses are keen to tap into that.”
Meanwhile Ellie, 22, is tipped to host a top BBC show, and “become a millionaire by 24”.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede said the former Corrie star, said to be dating dance partner Vito, has “all the makings of a huge star on stage and screen”.
He added: “If she really is seeing Vito then they could be the next hot couple, like Gorka and Gemma Atkinson, and I can see them doing lots of personal appearances and performances.
“They say when one door closes another one opens — and for Ellie this door is huge and covered in glitter, with movie star lights all around it.”
Ellie quit ITV’s Corrie this year and is said to be lined up for BBC soap Waterloo Road.
She was favourite to win the final on Saturday, never being in the bottom two throughout the series and becoming the highest-scoring woman this year.
And Ellie survived a scare when a lift in one of her three dances nearly went wrong.
After lifting the Glitterball Trophy she said: “Words cannot describe how I am feeling right now and I cannot believe we have just won Strictly. It’s been a life-changing opportunity and I’ve had the time of my life dancing with Vito every week.
“It has been so special and to be able to do it with such a great teacher has made it an experience I will never forget.
“Thank you so much for that Vito, and thank you for finding the dancer in me.”
Italian Vito, 31, added: “This is unbelievable . . . it means the world to us.
“Ellie, my Lulu, I am so, so proud of you. I have seen how hard you have worked, the dedication and determination you have shown and how much you have grown as a person these past three months.”
Actor Layton Williams, 29, who was also a runner-up with his pro partner Nikita Kuzmin, has a glittering future as well.
Head judge Shirley Ballas was seen consoling the pair after the winner was announced.
