Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Final
This report details the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant".
As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu executed 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the winning duo faced strong competition from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor.
The couple delivered dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
The Hosts' Last Final
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season.
Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes.
During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
