🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Final This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned 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 public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer 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 fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. 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 full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple delivered 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, 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," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Final An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, 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 success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned 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 public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer 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 fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. 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 full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The couple delivered 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, 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," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Final An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, 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 success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.