Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale

This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.

She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.

Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed".

It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.

In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone 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 guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice.

Carney and Gu performed routines 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.

But the winning duo faced strong competition from the other remaining couples.

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

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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.

Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble 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 topped the viewer poll.

"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 young people 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 attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged.

A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy".

The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.

The Hosts' Final 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 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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they said their goodbyes.

During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages 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 bonds created, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.

"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.

"The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."

Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.