Villagers praise Tom's Strictly win

Dec 21 2008

Friends and supporters in Tom Chambers' home village spoke of their pride after he was crowned Strictly Come Dancing winner.

More than 13 million viewers tuned in to watch the Holby City actor dance his way to victory on Saturday night. The newlywed, 31, won over the public in the BBC reality show, which has been mired in controversy this year.

Chambers, who postponed his honeymoon to take part in the celebrity contest, thanked his wife Clare before paying tribute to friends, family and dance partner Camilla Dallerup for their support in helping him seal the title.

Residents in his home village of Parwich, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, gathered in the local pub last night to cheer him on. Up to 50 people crowded around the television screen in the tiny bar at The Sycamore Inn to watch the modern-day Fred Astaire dance his way to glory.

Landlady Janet Gosling, who went to primary school with Chambers, said: "Everyone was really happy for him when he won. It's a close-knit community and everyone knows him."

About 550 people live in Parwich, a quiet, stone-built village surrounded by the rolling hills of the Peak District.

Ms Gosling said although Chambers now lived in London, he often returned to visit his parents, Stuart and Rosemary, and brother Giles and his family, who all live in the village.

Reverend Christopher Harrison, vicar of St Peter's Church in Parwich, said the whole village was "ecstatic" following the popular local boy's win.

He said: "There was utter exhilaration that he made it when so many times it looked as if that was it. People know him here as Tom and it's strange to think of him as a celebrity because he's so normal when he comes back to the village."

Revd Harrison said the actor was still very much part of village life, and regularly played the Last Post on the trumpet at the church's Armistice Day service. Chambers' father is the church treasurer and his mother is on the church committee, while Chambers has also helped the church look after the homeless, Revd Harrison said.