Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Live Finale

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

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

She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale.

Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "lost for words".

It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.

In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant".

Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance.

The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice.

Carney and Gu performed 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 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 strong rivalry from the other competing couples.

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

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

In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.

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

Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys 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 coming back for one more routine.

However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair.

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

The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final.

The Hosts' Last Final

In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise 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 hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.

This was their final 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 TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.

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

"The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."

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