🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- Lioness 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 defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart 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 championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the final show 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 performed routines 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 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 victorious duo faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair performed dances 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 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 journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature 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 coming back for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, 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 inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show 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 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion 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 piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- Lioness 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 defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart 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 championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the final show 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 performed routines 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 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 victorious duo faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair performed dances 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 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 journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature 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 coming back for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, 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 inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show 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 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion 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.