Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Final

This article reveals the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the coveted trophy.

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

Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "lost for words".

It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.

In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart 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 selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance.

The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.

Carney and Gu executed routines 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 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 victorious pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples.

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

The couple performed dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'.

In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble 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 won the viewer poll.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney.

Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."

Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine.

However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged.

A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness".

The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale.

The Hosts' Last Show

In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation 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 full of emotion as they signed off.

During the televised event, 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: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour.

"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.

"The warmth, compassion 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 holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.