Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Final
This report details the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - 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, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful".
As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed dances 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage.
The pair delivered routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive 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 classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, 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 girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine.
Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.
The Hosts' Final Final
Earlier this year, 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 first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off.
During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages 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 connections created, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The kindness, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
