Strictly Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Final

This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.

Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.

She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.

Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".

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

In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant".

Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite 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 dances including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.

But the victorious duo faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor.

The couple performed dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.

In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.

They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.

But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote.

"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.

Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."

Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance.

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 spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy".

The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.

The Hosts' Final Final

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

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 said their goodbyes.

During the live broadcast, 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 said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.

"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.

"The kindness, care and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."

Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.