🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Final This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired 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 favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed 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 football-themed 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 first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The pair delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high 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 highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Final A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down 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 companion program 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 celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 challenges 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 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 conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired 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 favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed 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 football-themed 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 first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The pair delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high 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 highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Final A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down 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 companion program 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 celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 challenges 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 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.