🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion 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 fab-u-lous". 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 competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed routines including a show dance 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 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 competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, 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 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 journey, 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." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband 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. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock 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 overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. 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 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 friendships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care 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 last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion 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 fab-u-lous". 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 competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed routines including a show dance 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 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 competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, 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 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 journey, 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." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband 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. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock 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 overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. 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 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 friendships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care 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 last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.