🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted 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 "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers 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 rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance 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 first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple delivered 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose 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 contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted 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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart 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 championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted 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 "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers 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 rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance 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 first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple delivered 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose 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 contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted 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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.