Beth Tweddle crowned Dancing on Ice champion after 'electric' Bolero

(PA)

Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle has been crowned Dancing on Ice champion after an "electric" performance of the Bolero - made famous by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean at the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Along with her partner Dan Whiston, Tweddle danced to victory with an originally choreographed version of the dance, beating actor Matt Lapinskas who had gained maximum points in his two dances earlier in the evening.

In matching purple outfits - a nod to Torvill and Dean's gold-medal winning performance 29 years ago - Tweddle said she was "speechless" and described her win as "amazing".

With reference to her opponent, she said: "All credit goes to Matt."

The gymnast's dance impressed the panel with head judge Robin Cousins describing it as "electric", while former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts said: "That was sexy. That was sultry. There was attack. There was softness."

Lapinskas received even higher praise though, with Jason Gardiner saying after his version of Bolero: "For me, you are my champion."

Meanwhile, mentor Dean told the star: "You have not put a foot wrong all night."

Lapinskas said he had fallen in love with skating during the series and had high plaudits for his partner Brianne Delcourt.

"She's one in a million. I'll never find another one like her," he said.

Earlier, Olympic boxing champion Luke Campbell was eliminated after receiving the fewest public votes, but he still scored his personal best of the series.

Along with his partner Jenna Smith, he scored 34.5 for his Wild West themed performance - part of which was described as a "country and western gay bar scene" by Gardiner.

Despite being beaten to third place and not getting the chance to dance to Bolero, Campbell said he had a great experience, had learned a new skill and had made new friends.

Speaking about her time on the show, Tweddle said: "It's been the most amazing experience and a lot of credit has to go to Dan."

During the show, the contestants voted out in previous weeks returned to the ice for a short dance, and Coronation Street star Samia Ghadie further confirmed she was in a relationship with her dance partner Sylvain Longchambon.

When asked by presenter Christine Bleakley if she was allowed to say love was in the air, Ghadie said: "Yeah, we're allowed to say that."

PA