🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Glitzy Live Final This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball 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 grand finale 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 viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - 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 victorious pair faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, 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 Viennese 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," commenting: "To the girls and boys 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 returning 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 denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement 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 sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees 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 struggles overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing 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 success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event. Watch: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball 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 grand finale 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 viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed dances 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - 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 victorious pair faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, 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 Viennese 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," commenting: "To the girls and boys 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 returning 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 denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement 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 sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees 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 struggles overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing 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 success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.