🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Final This article reveals the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running 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 "warmth, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances 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 football-themed 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 victorious pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple delivered routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles 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 sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. 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 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 challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running 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 "warmth, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances 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 football-themed 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 victorious pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple delivered routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles 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 sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. 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 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 challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.