🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Finale This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the coveted trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant 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 long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale 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 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. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. 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 jive 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 show dance 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 won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented 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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. 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: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the coveted trophy. She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an poignant 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 long-running hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale 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 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. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the dance floor in the final. But the victorious duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage. 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 jive 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 show dance 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 won the viewer poll. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Final Final A photo from the emotional final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has presented 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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. 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: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the connections forged, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.