🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone 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 chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple performed routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with 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 said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and sheer 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 is broadcast on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone 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 chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple performed routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with 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 said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and sheer 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 is broadcast on 25 December.