🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Glitzy Live Finale This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed 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 favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. 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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced fierce 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 Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first 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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint 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 radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed 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 favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. 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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced fierce 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 Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first 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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint 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 radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.