Kara and Artem kiss on Strictly Christmas show
Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev are finally giving viewers the chance to see them lock lips - as they get to grips in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. The champions cosy up under the mistletoe as they take part in the group dance which also features semi-finalists Pamela Stephenson, Gavin Henson, Matt Baker and Scott Maslen. Actress Kara - wearing a scarlet outfit - holds a sprig above her head as the duo share a kiss on the dancefloor during the show, to be screened on Christmas Day. The dancing partners have kept people guessing as to whether a real-life relationship is blossoming. Kara had been tight-lipped on the issue during the series, which finished on Saturday. But after winning she said: "Fingers crossed. We will see what happens." A programme insider said: "No-one quite expected Kara to plant that much of a smacker on Artem - but did they really need the mistletoe?" Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special is on BBC1 on Saturday December 25 at 7pm.
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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.