Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Final
This article reveals the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy.
She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure 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 wonderful".
As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected 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 viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed dances including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the victorious duo faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage.
The pair delivered 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 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 backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance.
Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged.
A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Last Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time presenting 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 messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the struggles conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
