🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Finale This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair delivered 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "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," 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 revisit 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 contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted 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 last time presenting 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 messages 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 relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winners are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first footballer to win the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine. The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the victorious duo faced strong competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair delivered 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "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," 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 revisit 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 contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final. Tess and Claudia's Last Final An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted 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 last time presenting 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 messages 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 relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success." Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.