🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, 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. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their dramatic dance 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 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 "changed my life," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show 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 tribute from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef 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 connections created, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, 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. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their dramatic dance 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 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 "changed my life," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show 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 tribute from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef 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 connections created, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.