Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Finale
This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the coveted trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public 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 saying she was "overwhelmed".
It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.
In a note 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 success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed routines 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the victorious pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage.
The couple delivered 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'.
Meanwhile, 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 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.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people 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.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total fairness".
The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's Last Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series.
Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with 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 crew and fans of the show.
The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the struggles conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
