🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Final This article reveals the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". 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. As usual, 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 final decision. Carney and Gu performed 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, garnering 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 strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The couple delivered 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 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 public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," 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 opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural 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 overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages 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 connections forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness 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 radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This article reveals the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". 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. As usual, 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 final decision. Carney and Gu performed 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, garnering 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 strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The couple delivered 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 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 public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," 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 opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural 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 overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages 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 connections forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness 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 radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.