🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair 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 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 classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Last Final An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted 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 last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart 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 final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair 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 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 classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Last Final An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted 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 last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.