🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Grand Final This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran 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 pure joy" had been at the core 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 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 grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed 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. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage. The couple 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again 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. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. 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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 friendships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless". It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran 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 pure joy" had been at the core 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 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 grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed 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. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage. The couple 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 jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again 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. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. 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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 friendships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.