It came as no great surprise that former E! show host Brooke Burke and professional dancing partner Derek Hough were named the most gifted and appreciated couple on this season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Brooke Burke and Derek Hough ruled the seventh season of “Dancing with the Stars,” coming in first place in eight episodes of the show and receiving a perfect score of 30 on the final night. They charmed the audience and convinced the judges they were unstoppable, scoring 88 points out of 90 for their last three dances.

It was only natural that Tuesday night, the moment of glory was theirs. Also with their eyes glued on the coveted mirror ball trophy were NFL star Warren Sapp and his professional dancing partner Kym Johnson, and former boy band member Lance Bass and his partner Lacey Schwimmer.

Burke and Hough were a force to be reckoned with though, despite injuries both suffered. Their samba and freestyle earned them 58 out of 60 points on Monday’s show and Tuesday’s dance, the third and last one, the Viennese waltz, won them another perfect score. Viewers, who account for 50 percent of the total score, were also clearly on their side.

As host Tom Bergeron announced the winners, Burke, 37, and Hough hugged each other. The former host of E! television show “Wild On” could only exclaim, ‘Unbelievable,” while Hough said it had been a long, tough and wonderful journey. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba commented they were the most deserving dancers of the season.

Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson finished second, performing the hustle on Tuesday and earning 80 out of 90 points in the final round of dances. Judge Len Goodman consoled them by saying they were the public’s champion. Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer finished third, despite beating Burke in a previous episode. The final jitterbug they performed earned 81 out of 90 points.

Brooke Burke is only the third female participant to take home the mirror ball trophy, after season one’s Kelly Monaco and season six’s Kristi Yamaguchi. The mother of four, whose fiancé is former “Baywatch” star David Charvet, and who gave birth to her fourth child, son Shaya, in March, awed everyone with her luscious post-baby body.

The first three couples eliminated from the show were comedian Jeffrey Ross and his professional partner Edyta Śliwińska, television actor Ted McGinley and partner Inna Brayer and reality star Kim Kardashian and Mark Ballas.

Others hoofing it out this season were actresses Cloris Leachman (at 82, the oldest participant ever on “Dancing with the Stars”) and Susan Lucci, actor Cody Linley, Olympic gold medalists Maurice Greene and Misty May-Treanor, singer Toni Braxton and celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito.

Some 20 million viewers tuned in weekly, with singers Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus making guest appearances.