Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final

This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.

Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy.

She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale.

Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".

It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.

In a message read out by panelist 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, adding: "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 chosen 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 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.

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

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

The pair delivered 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 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote.

"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 girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."

Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance.

However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair.

A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness".

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

The Hosts' Last Show

Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season.

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 final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes.

During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 connections forged, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.

"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 appeal."

Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.