🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' 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 adding she was "speechless". It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" 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 soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, 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 advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines including a show dance 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor. The pair performed 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, 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 proud 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 memorable moments on the night included most of the cast 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 rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural 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 live broadcast, 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 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 happiness shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' 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 adding she was "speechless". It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" 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 soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, 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 advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines including a show dance 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor. The pair performed 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, 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 proud 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 memorable moments on the night included most of the cast 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 rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural 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 live broadcast, 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 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 happiness shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.