🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Glitzy Grand Finale This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the coveted trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected 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 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair delivered routines 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 classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted 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 televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "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 shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are declared Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the coveted trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "speechless". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected 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 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The pair delivered routines 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 classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total fairness". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Show An image from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted 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 televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "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 shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.