🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. Watch: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest 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 last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". 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. As usual, 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 final decision. Carney and Gu performed routines 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. 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'. Meanwhile, 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 Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll. "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 powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted 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 signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 friendships: the bonds forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. Watch: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest 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 last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". 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. As usual, 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 final decision. Carney and Gu performed routines 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. 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'. Meanwhile, 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 Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll. "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 powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted 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 signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 friendships: the bonds forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.