The first constituency to change hands in Tayside and Fife was one expected to be won by the narrowest of margins.
However, the 10pm exit poll proved much closer to the truth and online pollsters who suggested Ochil and South Perthshire would be neck-and-neck between the SNP and Conservatives.
Tory MP Luke Graham lost his seat after two years of representing the constituency as the SNP landslide swallowed the seat spanning Clackmannanshire and half of Perth and Kinross.
Mr Graham hung on to almost all of his core vote but stagnated, gathering 85 fewer votes than last time out.
Meanwhile, the surge in SNP support, reflected across the country, saw John Nicolson pick up 7,000 more than the last SNP candidate, Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh in 2017.
The former East Dunbartonshire MP cruised to victory by stealing the Conservatives’ 3,300 majority and adding another thousand votes on top.
The exit poll had suggested Mr Nicolson had an 88% chance of winning the seat.
Accidentally mistaking the constituency he was fighting for with his last constituency was quickly forgiven by voters who got behind his messages of halting Brexit and stopping Boris Johnson.
The seat has proved a hotbed of political movement and has been held by Labour, SNP and Conservative MPs before last night’s election.
But like almost every seat in Scotland, the challenge to win over constituents quickly became a two horse race.
Labour’s vote share in third place was slashed by more than half as tactical voting proved a major factor across the constituency.
Mr Nicolson said: “We want MPs who will go down to Westminster and stand up for Scotland, not to represent Westminster in Scotland.
“I have only one intention when I go down to Westminster and that is to fight for this constituency and to fight for Scotland every single day.
“Boris Johnson is ghastly enough now. Can you imagine what he will be like with this huge majority?
“Thanks to my team who have worked tirelessly over the past two and a half years. It has been an honour to serve and hopefully make our constituency a little better.”
Runner up Mr Graham said: “Congratulations to John Nicolson on becoming the new MP for Ochil and South Perthshire.
