🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Final This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," 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 Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". 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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed routines 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 football-themed 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 dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble 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 freestyle routine 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 won the viewer poll. "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 girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit 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 contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, 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 audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented 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 last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart 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 conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," 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 Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". 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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed routines 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 football-themed 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 dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble 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 freestyle routine 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 won the viewer poll. "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 girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit 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 contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, 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 audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented 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 last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.