đź”— Share this article Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Finale This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing 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 emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". 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 final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple delivered dances 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 performed again 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 public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, 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 fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook 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 connections created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have projected 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 holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing 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 emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". 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 final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple delivered dances 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 performed again 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 public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, 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 fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook 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 connections created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have projected 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 holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.