🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". 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 paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and pure 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 brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious pair faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair delivered routines including a show dance 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'. 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 Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "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 young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show An image from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented 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 overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the struggles overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless". 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 paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and pure 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 brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision. 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious pair faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair delivered routines including a show dance 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'. 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 Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "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 young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show An image from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented 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 overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the tribute 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the struggles overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The warmth, compassion and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.