🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Final This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed dances 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, garnering 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 dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple performed routines including a show dance 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 revisited 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted 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 contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute 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 said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, care and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed dances 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, garnering 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 dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple performed routines including a show dance 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 revisited 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted 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 contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute 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 said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, care and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.