🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final This report details the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. 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 freestyle routine. 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 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 perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced fierce competition from the other competing 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 revisited their dramatic dance 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 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," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees 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 friendships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. 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 freestyle routine. 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 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 perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced fierce competition from the other competing 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 revisited their dramatic dance 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 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," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees 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 friendships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.