đź”— Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale This piece covers the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," 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 last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist 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, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". 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. 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 ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The couple performed routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their dramatic dance 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported 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 confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their favourite 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 coming back for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Final A photo 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 stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of 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 production team 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 friendships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," 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 last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist 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, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". 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. 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 ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The couple performed routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their dramatic dance 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported 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 confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their favourite 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 coming back for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Final A photo 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 stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of 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 production team 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 friendships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.