Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final
This report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words".
It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion 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 grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave guidance scores but the public 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the victorious pair faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor.
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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote 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 group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles 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 messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 bonds created, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
