Strictly Champions Announced in Spectacular Grand Finale
This report details the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted 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, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "speechless".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected 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 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 perfect score of the night.
But the victorious pair faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
The couple delivered dances 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'.
In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble 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 ballroom dances, 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 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."
Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged.
A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness".
The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Show
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down 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 companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final time presenting 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 crew and devotees 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 friendships: the connections forged, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
