Strictly judge not about to give up his day job

The Australian-born star, who beat mathematician Marcus du Sautoy in the finale of the BBC Two show, said he had “no concept” of how difficult it was going to be to pick up the baton.

The dancer and choreographer had about two months to learn his trade for the show, Maestro at the Opera, and said his day job was no help.

He said: “I thought because of my dance background it was going to be easy but I was so wrong, because as a dancer you dance on the beat, you are trained your entire life to always being on the beat, but as a conductor you have to think ahead of the beat and hear the music in your head.”

The finalists performed with the Royal Opera House Orchestra and then let the musicians vote for the winner.