🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared 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 reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone 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 rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed routines 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning duo faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage. The couple performed dances 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed 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 confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise 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 joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook 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 relationships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, 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 airs on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. Watch: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared 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 reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone 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 rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed routines 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning duo faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage. The couple performed dances 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed 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 confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise 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 joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook 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 relationships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, 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 airs on 25 December.