🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Announced in Spectacular Grand Finale This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed routines including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The pair delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed routines including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The pair delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.