🔗 Share this article Strictly Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen 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 viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed 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 football-themed 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 opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The couple performed routines including a freestyle 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 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 topped the public vote. "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 girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, 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 inaugural 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 said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message 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 read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen 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 viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed 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 football-themed 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 opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The couple performed routines including a freestyle 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 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 topped the public vote. "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 girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, 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 inaugural 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 said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message 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 read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.