LONDON - TELEVISION actor Tom Chambers won the British celebrity talent show Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday, beating former model and broadcaster Lisa Snowdon and singer Rachel Stevens.

Chambers and his partner Camilla Dallerup defeated Snowdon and her partner with a Hollywood musical-inspired number that trumped Stevens's 1980s-themed effort after a public phone-in vote. Snowdon was knocked out earlier in Saturday's show.

Chambers, 31, is best known for his role in the hospital drama Holby City, while Stevens, 30, began her career in the pop group S Club 7 before starting a solo career in 2002. Snowdon, 37, presents a fashion modelling reality TV programme and co-hosts a breakfast radio show for the London station Capital.

The show prompted thousands of viewer complaints last month when former BBC political correspondent John Sergeant withdrew, forcing the BBC to offer refunds to those who had voted for him in vain.

Strictly's judges had criticised Sergeant's hapless dancing, but the public had voted off more talented celebrities instead because of Sergeant's bumbling charm.

The BBC had to issue further refunds last week after thousands of viewers complained when the show's producers decided not to eliminate any contestant after a glitch in the voting system. -- REUTERS