Strictly Champions Announced in Spectacular Live Final
This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy.
She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "speechless".
It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.
In a message 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, stating: "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 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 ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu executed dances 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the winning pair faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
The pair performed dances 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 Paso Doble 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, 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 proud and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's Final Show
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down 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 sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they signed off.
During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew 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 friendships: the bonds forged, the struggles conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, care 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 appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
