Rules needed to avoid 'Strictly' confusion: Winner Tointon

Kara Tointon wants a 'Strictly Come Dancing' rulebook introduced to prevent confusion about the dances.

The former EastEnders actress, 27, and dance partner Artem Chigvintsev were marked down by Len Goodman for the way they interpreted the American smooth.

She told BBC Breakfast: “I think there should be a Strictly rule book. Artem is an amazing choreographer. He thought American smooth is sort of freestyle but who knows? There should be a book.”

Tointon said the chemistry had been there between her and her Russian dance partner, who shared a public kiss after their win, from the beginning.

She said: “We’ve got on like a house on fire all the way through, which is quite a big achievement in itself because it’s intense and you do have low moments.

“Now we’re out of the studio it will be nice to do some normal things like go to the cinema and the shops.”

She added: “We’ve got to know each other so well. It’s a bit of an odd situation.”

Tointon said she had been a massive fan of the BBC1 show but that she did not know anything about her dance partner because he was new to the programme.

She said: “I didn’t know what to expect. I know all the others very well. I didn’t know this one. But I got to know him.

“I’m the biggest Strictly fan. I was in the audience nearly every week (in the previous series). They had to get rid of me at one point to let other people come.”

Tointon said she will miss “being dressed up like a princess” now the show has finished, adding: “When it came to the public vote we never thought in a million years (that we’d win) against Pamela (Stephenson) who’s a complete inspiration, a bit of a machine. She blows me away.

“Matt (Baker) has been incredible from the word go. It’s a bit of a dream really and we’re very proud.”

Tointon, who had to pay a visit to A&E after tearing ligaments in her lower arm, said of the injury: “I tried something a little bit silly on Saturday. It was a shame because the last two dances were a bit of a disaster but we made it through and to win it was just insane.

“I tried to do a backflip that I haven’t done since I was about 11. The floor is a bit hard so I shouldn’t have done that.”

The couple will spend Christmas with her parents and go on to dance in the Strictly tour.

Tointon said of her win: “It is so emotional. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’ll never forget it.”