Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale
This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone 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 favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed routines 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning duo faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor.
The pair delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's 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 joined 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 overcome with feeling as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees 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 friendships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
