Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Final
This report details the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer 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 dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.
In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
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 freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu performed dances including a freestyle 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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor.
The couple 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 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 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 topped the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up."
Other memorable moments 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 alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation 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 overcome with feeling as they signed off.
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 bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
