🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Final This piece covers the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair delivered dances 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their dramatic dance 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Social media star 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 cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock 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 joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 friendships: 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 partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair delivered dances 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their dramatic dance 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Social media star 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 cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock 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 joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 friendships: 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 partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.