🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Announced in Glitzy Live Finale This report details the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". 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. 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 happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball 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 grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial 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 reprised their dramatic dance 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "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 girls and boys 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 powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants 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 leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the historic 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 presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute 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 read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the struggles conquered and the happiness 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 sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Scene Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". 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. 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 happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball 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 grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine. 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial 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 reprised their dramatic dance 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "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 girls and boys 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 powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants 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 leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the historic 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 presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute 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 read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the struggles conquered and the happiness 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 sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.