🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Spectacular Live Finale This report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute 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 "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "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 freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed dances 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced fierce competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair delivered dances including a freestyle 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Final A photo from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting 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 fans 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 struggles conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute 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 "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "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 freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed dances 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced fierce competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair delivered dances including a freestyle 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'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Final A photo from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting 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 fans 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 struggles conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.