Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Final
This report details the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy.
She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "speechless".
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 offering praise to the veteran hosts.
In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
Following tradition, 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 viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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.
But the winning duo faced stiff competition from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage.
The couple 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 salsas and foxtrots, 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 experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.
The Hosts' Last Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise 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 joined in 2014, having fronted 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 televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees 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 forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, care and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.