Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Final
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.
In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the final decision.
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 perfect score of the night.
But the winning duo faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage.
The pair delivered routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "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 routine.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's Last Final
In October, 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 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 message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees 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 friendships: the bonds created, 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 kindness, care and pure joy you have radiated 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.
