🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Spectacular Grand Finale This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first footballer to claim the coveted trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship 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 grand finale was chosen 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 viewing audience made the final decision. 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The pair performed dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine 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 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 "changed my life," 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 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 cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Last Final A photo from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined 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 recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 created, the struggles conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care 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 show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first footballer to claim the coveted trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship 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 grand finale was chosen 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 viewing audience made the final decision. 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The pair performed dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine 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 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 "changed my life," 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 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 cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Last Final A photo from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined 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 recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 created, the struggles conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care 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 show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.