🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, 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 final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone 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 chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, 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 freestyle 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 perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair delivered 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 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 topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, 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." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted 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. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, 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 first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final 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 messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "If that is true, 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 heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, 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 final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone 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 chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, 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 freestyle 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 perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair delivered 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 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 topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, 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." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted 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. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, 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 first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final 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 messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a joint challenge. "If that is true, 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 heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.