🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale This report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before adding 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 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 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 glitterball 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 grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed dances including a freestyle 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, 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 winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The pair 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed 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 highlights 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 elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final An image from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement 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 hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion 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 crew and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion 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 report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before adding 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 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 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 glitterball 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 grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed dances including a freestyle 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, 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 winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The pair 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed 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 highlights 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 elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final An image from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement 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 hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion 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 crew and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion 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.