Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Final
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy.
She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "overwhelmed".
It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.
In a note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision.
Carney and Gu performed routines 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the victorious pair faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage.
The couple 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
Meanwhile, 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 Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won 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," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness".
The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's Last Show
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise 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 joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes.
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 devotees 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 created, the struggles overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"Should that be the case, 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 success."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
