Tasmanian Dancing with the Stars runner-up Lily Cornish made her parents cry ‘happy tears’

She may not be holding the mirrorball trophy, but the efforts of Tasmanian Dancing With the Stars performer Lily Cornish left her parents “on the edge of our seats, screaming at the television”.

LILY Cornish will get “the world’s biggest hug” from her family if she can come home after competing in the Dancing with the Stars finale.

The Tasmanian-born dancer and her dance partner Christian Wilkins, son of TV presenter Richard Wilkins, finished second in the competition for the mirrorball trophy on Sunday night.

Comedian Celia Pacquola and her dance partner Jarryd Byrne won the competition, with Claudia Karvan third and Ed Kavalee fourth.

Cornish is the daughter of Launceston former newsreader and Liberal candidate for Rosevears Jo Palmer and professional Latin-American dancer Andrew Palmer, who were on the edge of their seats at home with Cornish’s two little brothers, Charlie and Alfie, during the finale.

Mr Palmer said the family wished they could be there, but had stay home due to coronavirus safety measures.

Lily Cornish and dance partner Christian Wilkins. Picture: TEN

“We were there on the edge of our seats, screaming at the television and getting emotional with happy tears,” he said.

“[We were] just really, really proud of Lily and Christian.

“They’ve been through a hell of a lot over the last few months, but especially the last month when this crisis has hit.”

The young dancers were forced to quarantine in a hotel room together for almost three weeks during the series, while they were tested for coronavirus after Richard Wilkins’ diagnosis.

They tested negative but had to perform on the hotel’s rooftop in a previous episode while in isolation.

Mr Palmer said the Viennese waltz they performed on the rooftop with the city of Melbourne as their backdrop was one of his highlights of the season.

The other was the relationship Cornish and Wilkins developed.

Cornish has a flight booked to return to Tasmania in the coming days and will have to go into self-isolation again when she arrives home.

“We are just really praying that she makes it back home as soon as possible,” Mr Cornish said.