🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Announced in Spectacular Live Finale This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers 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 standing ovation. Following tradition, 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 advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines 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. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a show dance 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'. Meanwhile, 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Final A photo from the emotional 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 season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers 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 standing ovation. Following tradition, 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 advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines 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. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a show dance 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'. Meanwhile, 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Final A photo from the emotional 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 season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.