🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Final This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant 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 veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen 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 public made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed routines 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, 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 dance floor in the final. But the winning duo faced fierce competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive 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 won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine 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, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. 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 revelation 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 overcome with emotion as they signed off. 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 devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care 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 last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant 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 veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen 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 public made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed routines 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, 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 dance floor in the final. But the winning duo faced fierce competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive 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 won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine 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, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. 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 revelation 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 overcome with emotion as they signed off. 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 devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care 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 last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.