Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Live Final
This article reveals the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts 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 note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant".
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 show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
The pair delivered 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their dramatic dance 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 viewer poll.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up."
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 elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged.
A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final.
The Hosts' Last Final
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 companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion 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 production team and devotees 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 struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness 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 is broadcast on 25 December.
