🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Glitzy Live Finale This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters 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 "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers 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. Following tradition, 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 freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed routines including a freestyle 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo 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 freestyle 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance 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," commenting: "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 revisit 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 cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show 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 leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final 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 celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are declared Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters 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 "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers 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. Following tradition, 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 freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed routines including a freestyle 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo 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 freestyle 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance 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," commenting: "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 revisit 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 cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show 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 leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final 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 celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.