Strictly Champions Announced in Spectacular Grand Final
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy.
She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".
It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.
In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion 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 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 freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu performed routines 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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night.
But the victorious duo faced fierce competition from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage.
The couple delivered 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 performed again their dramatic dance 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 topped 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 "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's Final Show
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 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 tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show.
The Queen's message read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, compassion and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
