Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Glitzy Live Final
This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy.
She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed".
It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart 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 selected 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 public made the final decision.
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 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 stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial 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 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 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 backed our journey, 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."
Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. 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 "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete fairness".
The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Show
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 presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board 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 feeling as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, care and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
