🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Finale This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer joy" 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 soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, 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 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 Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage. The pair performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the emotional final hosting 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 season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. 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 devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer joy" 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 soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, 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 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 Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage. The pair performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the emotional final hosting 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 season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. 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 devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.