🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Final This article reveals the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "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 standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The couple performed routines including a show dance 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'. 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 freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, 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." Influencer 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 routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down 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 fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This article reveals the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Moment Strictly 2025 winners are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy. She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "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 standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave advisory 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor. The couple performed routines including a show dance 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'. 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 freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, 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." Influencer 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 routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Final Show An image from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down 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 fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.