🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy 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 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 grand finale 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 ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed routines 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 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 take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair performed routines 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical 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 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 repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural 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 full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 friendships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer 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 holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy 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 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 grand finale 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 ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed routines 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 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 take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair performed routines 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical 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 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 repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural 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 full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 friendships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer 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 holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.