Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale
This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy.
She beat reality TV star 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, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
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: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
Following tradition, 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 show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu executed 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning duo faced strong competition from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage.
The pair delivered dances including a freestyle 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 dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
But after weeks of tangos, 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 journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," 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 the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged.
A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Last Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles 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 fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final 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 recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 happiness shared in undertaking a shared challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, care and pure 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 show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
