Harry Judd and Aliona Vilani win Strictly Come Dancing series nine

On 17 December 2011, McFly drummer Harry Judd and his professional partner Aliona Vilani won the ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC's hugely popular Saturday-night celebrity ballroom contest. The final was broadcast live on BBC One, with the result decided by a combination of judges' scores and a public telephone vote.

Judd, then in his mid-twenties, was best known as the drummer of the pop-rock band McFly. He was not seen as a trained dancer when the series began, and his progress over the weeks, from a nervous beginner to a confident finalist, was one of the main stories of the season. Vilani, a Ukrainian-born professional on the show, had taken part in earlier series and gained her first win with him.

The victory raised Judd's profile beyond music and showed how Strictly could turn a celebrity with no dance background into a champion. It also helped lead to later television and stage work, which is why his win is often recalled when he appears in new performing roles.