🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Final This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure joy" 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 glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. 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 freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The pair 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 supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high 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 cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have projected 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 conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final. View: Scene Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure joy" 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 glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. 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 freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The pair 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 supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high 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 cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have projected 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.