Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Final

This article reveals the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final.

Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy.

She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.

Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "overwhelmed".

It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.

In a message presented 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, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant".

As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite 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 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.

But the winning pair faced strong competition from the other remaining couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor.

The pair delivered dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'.

Meanwhile, 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 Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.

But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, 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, dream big and be proud and never give up."

Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine.

However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged.

A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness".

The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the grand final.

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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off.

During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees 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 connections forged, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour.

"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.

"The warmth, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."

Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.