Strictly Winners Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale

This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.

Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy.

She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.

Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words".

It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.

In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant".

As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine.

The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.

Carney and Gu executed 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 perfect score of the night.

But the victorious duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples.

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

The couple performed 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'.

In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll.

"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney.

Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."

Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.

However, online figure 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 verified to ensure total fairness".

The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.

The Hosts' Final Final

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 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 overcome with emotion as they signed off.

During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages 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 friendships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint challenge.

"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.

"The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."

Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.