🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Final This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. 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 advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a freestyle 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 first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine 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 public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, 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." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied 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 popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Final An image 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 stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 connections forged, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. 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 advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a freestyle 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 first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine 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 public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, 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." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied 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 popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Final An image 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 stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 connections forged, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.