Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale
This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.
Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy.
She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning 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 "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.
In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu performed routines including a show dance 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the victorious duo faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor.
The pair performed dances 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.
"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 girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy".
The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Show
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series.
Daly has hosted 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 last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show.
The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a joint challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, compassion and sheer 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 airs on 25 December.
