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Chris Hollins wins <I>Strictly Come Dancing</I>

Chris Hollins has become the third first-class cricketer to win the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing

Cricinfo staff
19-Dec-2009
Chris Hollins: a hat-trick for the cricketers&nbsp;&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;Getty Images

Chris Hollins: a hat-trick for the cricketers  •  Getty Images

BBC presenter Chris Hollins has become the third first-class cricketer to win the channel's Strictly Come Dancing, following Darren Gough in 2005 and Mark Ramprakash a year later. Although he did not win the judges' vote, he got the public's backing to beat actor and favourite Ricky Whittle.
"I'm very lucky that people at home supported us and kept us in this competition," Hollins said. "I haven't got that much ability. But Ola [Jordan, his dance partner] really believed in me."
Hollins, 38, made eight appearances for Oxford University in 1994, scoring 131 in that year's Varsity match. An offspinner he took four wickets on debut, but it was only when he hit 68 batting at No. 7 against Leicestershire in his fourth game that his ability with the bat became evident.
He was born into a sporting family - his father, John, played football for England while his uncle, David, turned out for Wales - and he too was a good enough player to have spent brief periods with Charlton, Queens Park Rangers, and Aldershot Town.
Although playing regularly in club and representative cricket, he became better known as a presenter, initially with Sky Sports before joining the BBC in 1999.