🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Final This article reveals the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". 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 offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". 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 grand finale 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 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair delivered 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 performed again 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit 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 contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the first 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 feeling as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 relationships: the connections created, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". 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 offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". 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 grand finale 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 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair delivered 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 performed again 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit 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 contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the first 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 feeling as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 relationships: the connections created, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.