🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Live Finale This piece covers the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - 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 panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers 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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The pair performed 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'. 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you 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 confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first 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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with 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 crew 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing 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 last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - 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 panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers 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. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. The pair performed 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'. 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you 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 confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first 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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with 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 crew 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing 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 last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.