🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Final This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," 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 final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart 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 glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature 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 returning for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. 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 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 final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint 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 projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final 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: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," 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 final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart 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 glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature 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 returning for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. 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 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 final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint 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 projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.