Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Final
This report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship.
Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.
In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful".
Following tradition, 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 show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night.
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 performed dances 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'.
Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete fairness".
The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
The Hosts' Last Show
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series.
Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, 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 read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing 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 appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
