🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed dances including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine 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 full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The couple performed routines including a freestyle 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 performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese 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. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement 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 fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees 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 struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed dances including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine 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 full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The couple performed routines including a freestyle 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 performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese 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. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement 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 fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees 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 struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.