With 11 million people tuning in for this year's Strictly Come Dancing final, the people of Kent were bursting with pride as a local girl was crowned the winner.

Rose-Ayling Ellis, Eastenders actress, Ashford school girl and all round inspiration lifted the glitterball last Saturday with her partner Giovanni Pernice.

But she's not the first person from the Garden of England to pull on their dancing shoes and delight viewers on prime time TV, even if she is the most successful.

As we all get ready to enjoy this year's Christmas special, with singer Ann-Marie, broadcaster Adrian Chiles and presenter Mel Giedroyc taking part, we take a look back at the best, the worst and the unforgettable people from Kent who waltzed on our screens.

HRVY

It was so close! Singer and TV presenter, Hrvy, finished as a runner up in last year's Strictly Come Dancing final.

From Hartley, near Gravesend, he and professional dancer Janette Manrara were pipped to the post by Bill Bailey and his dance partner Oti Mabuse who lifted the glitter ball trophy.

The 2020 series saw Hrvy score the first 10s of the series.

Hrvy's come a long way since KentOnline interviewed him back in January 2014 when he was just 14.

The 22-year-old singer was catapulted into the spotlight when East 17 singer Blair Dreelan saw a video of him on Facebook.

Now with more than four million Instagram followers, he has released multiple popular songs, with his biggest hit 'Personal' getting more than 170 million views on YouTube.

Kelly Brook

Model and actress, Kelly Brook, sadly had to drop out of the 2007 show after the death of her father.

From Rochester, Kelly began the fifth series of Strictly with dance partner, Brendan Cole.

After vowing to continue rehearsals for the live show in her dad's memory, she found it too difficult to continue.

Dr Ranj

In 2018, television's Dr Ranj Singh's stay on Strictly came to an end when he became the sixth celebrity to be booted out of the ballroom by the show's judges.

From Medway, Bafta award winning presenter Dr Ranj and dance partner Janette Manrara found themselves in the dance-off following a public vote.

The former Medway Maritime Hospital worker Dr Ranj, who was born in Chatham, said the show helped him make friends for life and his dancing journey was something that he only could have dreamed of.

Lee Ryan

In the 2018 series, Dr Ranj was joined by fellow Kent contestant, the former Blue singer Lee Ryan – but only briefly.

Unfortunately the Chatham-born performer failed to impress the judges with his cha-cha-cha during movie week and was the second celeb to be voted off.

Judges decided to save actor Charles Venn in the dance-off, which was Ryan's second in as many weeks.

Ann Widdecombe

Former Maidstone and the Weald MP Ann Widdecombe competed in the 2010 series of Strictly, producing a series of memorable routines.

The ex-backbencher was the first eminent politician to take to the dance floor and she gained a new set of fans who were delighted by her partnership with Strictly favourite Anton du Beke.

After describing herself as a pantomime act, somewhat against the odds she almost reached the semi-finals but did not quite do enough to win over the judges and became the ninth celebrity to leave.

James Jordan

It's not just the amateurs on the show that we have to shout about. We also have a few professionals on the show that have represented the county.

James Jordan was born in Gillingham and attended. St John Fisher School in Chatham. He was a professional on the show from 2006 to 2013 and still gives his opinion on the show every week with a Twitter thread on the performances.

He made it to the final on two occasions with Denise Van Outen - who also lived in Kent for a while - and Dr. Pamela Stephenson, but never quite got his hands on the glitterball.

Unlike his wife...

Ola Jordan

The British-Polish professional ballroom dancer married James on October 12, 2003 and the couple now live in West Malling with their daughter.

She appeared on the show from 2006 to 2015 and in 2009 became Strictly champions with her partner Chris Hollins.

Affectionately known as Team Cola, Ola and sports reporter Chris are often remembered for their Charleston which earned top marks from all of the judges.

In 2018 she joined the judging panel on Dancing with the Stars: Taniec z gwiazdami in Poland.

Len Goodman

Ex-head judge, Len Goodman, led Strictly Come Dancing's judging panel for 12 years.

The 72-year-old was on the BBC show when it started in 2004 and decided to hang up his 'SEVEN' paddle in 2016.

Len, who runs the Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford and lives in Ightham near Sevenoaks, is still a judge on American TV series Dancing With The Stars.

Shirley Ballas

And finally, Strictly head judge, Shirley Ballas, will be starring in a panto at a Kent theatre this Christmas.

Shirley, who has been the lead judge on the BBC prime-time show for five series, will appear in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells.

Known as the Queen of Latin, she will play the Wicked Queen.

Find out more by clicking here.

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