🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Final This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant 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 veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy 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 fab-u-lous". 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. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, 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 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 full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The pair performed 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "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," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer 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 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show A photo from the historic final hosting 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 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 said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team 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 relationships: the connections created, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant 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 veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy 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 fab-u-lous". 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. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, 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 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 full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The pair performed 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "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," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer 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 coming back for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Final Show A photo from the historic final hosting 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 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 said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team 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 relationships: the connections created, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.