Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale
This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "lost for words".
It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.
In a message presented 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 popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning pair faced fierce competition from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor.
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 revisited their dramatic dance 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 topped the public vote.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged 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 verified to ensure complete fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Last Show
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles 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 final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes.
During the televised event, 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds forged, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
