🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Final This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen 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 viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious 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 couple performed dances 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 revisited their Paso Doble 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won 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," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion 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 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 bonds created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen 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 viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious 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 couple performed dances 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 revisited their Paso Doble 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won 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," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Last Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion 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 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 bonds created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.