Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Final
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.
She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed".
It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.
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, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience 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 full marks of the night.
But the victorious pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage.
The couple performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'.
Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments 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 vote that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's Last Show
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has hosted 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 last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 relationships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, care and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
