Phil Burton has been crowned the winner of Dancing with the Stars Australia 2023, beating out fan favourite Emily Weir in a nail-biting finale.
On July 23, the Human Nature singer took home the crown Mirror Ball Trophy and TBH, we think his boyband days gave him an unfair advantage!
During the heated Finale, six celebrities tapped and twirled it out on the DWTS dance floor, including actors Christie Whelan Browne and Virginia Gay, singer Paulini and comedian Mary Coustas.
However, Phil eventually reigned victorious over the Home and Away star, winning $20,000 for his chosen charity, NSW Police Legacy.
“This show has just been so incredible for the last seven weeks,” he told hosts Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger after taking home the win.
“I’ve had the absolute time of my life.
“And, you know, it’s a competition but it doesn’t feel like it when you’re out here and you’re with all these amazing people.”
He added: “It’s been an absolute joy to be a part of it.”
Phil also thanked his family and his dance partner, Ash-Leigh Hunter.
“[Ash] brought out a side in me that I never even knew existed,” he gushed. Awww.
What went down during the nail-biting Dancing with the Stars 2023 finale?
Runner-up Emily and her dance partner Lyu Masuda put up a good fight during their salsa/Charleston mash-up to the ICONIC Spice Girls‘ track ‘Spice Up Your Life’.
Judge Mark Wilson was very impressed by the performance, whilst Craig Revel Horwood said Emily was “shimmying for Jesus, darling!” And we don’t know whether this was a compliment or an insult…
However, Phil and Ash stole the show with their Motown routine to Wilson Pickett’s Land of 1000 Dances.
Craig gave the pair the ultimate compliment, stating that the routine was “full of rhythm [and] musicality” whilst Sharna Burgess praised Phil for his growth as a dancer.
When the judge’s votes were counted, Phil and Emily both ended up with 39 points.
However, after a nail-biting wait, the audience crowned Phil and Ash as the 2023 winners and fans took to Twitter to share their excitement.
It wasn’t all smiles, as others felt that fan-fave Virginia, who ended up on 36 points, was robbed of the win.
Well, looks like we have another 365 days to brush up on our dancing skills! DWTS, we’re coming for you!
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