Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale

This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.

Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy.

She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final.

Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before adding 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 long-running hosts.

In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant".

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 show dance.

The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice.

Carney and Gu executed dances 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 full marks of the night.

But the victorious duo faced strong competition 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 show dance 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 classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.

But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won 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," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."

Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.

However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair.

A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy".

The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale.

The Hosts' Final Final

In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise 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 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 said their goodbyes.

During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.

"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.

"The warmth, compassion 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 Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.