Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final

This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy.

She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.

Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "speechless".

It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.

In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful".

As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine.

The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision.

Carney and Gu executed routines 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.

But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage.

The pair delivered dances 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'.

In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.

Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."

Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine.

Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair.

A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete fairness".

The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final.

Tess and Claudia's Last Final

In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series.

Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.

This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion 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 said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared challenge.

"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.

"The kindness, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."

Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.