🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Spectacular Live Final This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - 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 read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won 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," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble 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 claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - 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 read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won 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," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble 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 claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.