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Rufus Hound has fought his way to victory in the grand finale of Let's Dance For Sport Relief, following a show-stopping performance of Fight For This Love.

After the viewers were treated to an almighty dance-off between the six finalists – Rufus Hound (Fight For This Love), Katy Brand (Single Ladies), Kate Garraway and Richard Arnold (Born To Hand Jive), Debra Stephenson (Smooth Criminal), Cheryl Fergison (Ice Ice Baby) and The Grumpy Old Women (Poker Face) – presenters Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones announced that the viewers had chosen Rufus Hound as their favourite and the show's champion.

However, in a night of high drama, Cheryl Fergison had to pull out of dancing live on the show, when she pulled a muscle during rehearsals earlier in the evening. A recording of her performance from last week was shown instead, enabling viewers to phone in and vote for her.

After his win Rufus Hound thanked his choreographers, saying: "They've been amazing, very patient. It's not easy getting a fat lad to move like this. So they've done a heck of a job!"

Following Rufus's performance, last year's winner and finale panellist Robert Webb said: "It almost goes without saying you are more compelling and watchable than Cheryl Cole. However, what you've also added is a costume that clearly hurts – in my experience the British public respects that!"

Impressionist John Culshaw commented: "I was loving that like the audience. I'm a great fan of your work anyway, I think you're a brilliant comedian on Argumental and all the shows you do. Brilliant attitude that went over into the dance and [in the voice of Simon Cowell] – I think Simon Cowell would be very happy with the beautiful tribute you paid to his Cheryl. I thought that was very deeply moving – it's three yeses!"

Comedian Jack Dee followed with: "Rufus, Rufus Hound. You are a hound. That was world class and you've given us my mojo back. Can I just say, this is a charity, when you take that leotard off could you please incinerate it! Well done. It was very good."

Following the handover of the Let's Dance trophy by last year's champion, Robert Webb, viewers' favourite Rufus Hound then closed the series in style with a memorable encore of their homage to Fight For This Love.

Tonight's show also included performances from N-Dubz, with their latest single, Playing With Fire, and the cast of Billy Elliot performing Expressing Yourself.

Notes to Editors

Each phone vote costs 50p from a BT landline, of which 36.8p goes to Sport Relief.

Further information about Sport Relief is available at www.sportrelief.com. Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).

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