🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Finale This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "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 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 competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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 opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a show dance 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Influencer 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 returning for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied 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 popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Final An image 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 stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural 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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "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 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 competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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 opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a show dance 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Influencer 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 returning for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied 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 popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Final An image 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 stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural 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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.