🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Final This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, 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. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred 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 freestyle 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair performed 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble 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 tangos, 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," adding: "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 revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Final A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. 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 last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, 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 said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, care and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, 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. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred 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 freestyle 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair performed 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble 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 tangos, 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," adding: "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 revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Final A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. 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 last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, 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 said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, care and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.