Singer Jake Carter has told RTÉ Entertainment he is "lost for words" after winning Dancing with the Stars with his professional partner Karen Byrne on Sunday night.
They lifted the glitterball trophy after seeing off the challenge of Anna Geary and her professional partner Kai Widdrington, and Deirdre O'Kane and her professional partner, John Nolan.
Jake & Karen have won #DWTSIrl series 2!!! pic.twitter.com/Vb66mTjFBM
— RTE One (@RTEOne) March 25, 2018
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, 19-year-old Carter said: "I'm lost for words. I actually cannot believe it. I've just stopped crying and I'm not an emotional person.
"It's mental! It’s overwhelming the amount of support that we've both received over the course of this show.
"I can't believe we've won it. It still feels like a dream that I'm saying it."
Byrne also admitted she was "a bag of emotions" during the show's big finale and said she felt drained "of every emotion" after her win.
"I don't know what happened to me tonight. I think it was just one of those moments that was bittersweet because it was coming to the end and we've enjoyed it so much. Yeah, I'm just a bit emotional," she added.
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Each couple had saved their best dances until the last show, with the result decided solely by the public vote.
Speaking immediately after their live televised win, an emotional Carter paid tribute to partner Byrne, saying: "I couldn't have spent this time with someone anymore special. I've had a ball; I'm lost for words and sorry for everyone for seeing me with my top off again!"
A gobsmacked Byrne said: "To be an Irish dancer being part of such an amazing production - everybody behind the scenes, the judges, all of you up there... I can't actually imagine ending... It was the most amazing experience and to end it with something so shiny!"
The epitome of class in defeat, Anna Geary and Deirdre O'Kane paid tribute to the new champions.
"Jake is a worthy winner," said Geary. "I couldn't be prouder of us as a team. It's been an amazing experience and everyone is friends for life."
"It's been so special," agreed O'Kane, who was celebrating her 50th birthday on the night. "I don't have enough words. I love Jake Carter and Karen; I'm so thrilled for them."
Sunday night's show had begun with the judges' choice of dances, followed by the couples' own favourites and then the show dance.
It was a final where the feelgood was matched by the dancefloor brilliance: O'Kane achieved her first 10s of the competition; Carter's Contemporary Ballroom routine was often breathtaking; Geary brought the WOW factor again with her iconic Charleston - and the show dances were still to come.
While Geary and Widdrington missed out on the glitterball trophy, their show dance to This Is Me from The Greatest Showman was the dance of the series - some achievement given the routine that Carter and Byrne had performed for another maximum score just minutes before.
In the judges' scores on the night for each couple's three dances, Carter and Byrne received 88 out of a possible 90; Geary and Widdrington also scored 88, with O'Kane and Nolan scoring 85.
Throughout, the winner felt impossible to call, setting up a nail-biting finish as the result was announced.
It was a show that eclipsed last year's excellent final. And then some.
