Strictly Champions Crowned in Glitzy Grand Finale
This report details the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters 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 message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone 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 competition, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice.
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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor.
The pair delivered dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance 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 show dance 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 won the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Final Show
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement 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 companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes.
During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 relationships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
